American International Journal of Social Science

The General’s Daughter: Ana Zapata, Mexican Suffragist, and Agent of Social Change
Alejandra Montes-de-Oca-O’Reilly

Abstract
Many historians have written extensively about Emiliano Zapata, one of the best-known generals of the Mexican Revolution and one of the most significant figures in Mexico’s history. However, there are no scholarly works that elaborate on his daughter, Ana Zapata, as someone who strove for the official recognition of Mexican women’s citizenship. In spite of cultural and gender stereotypes, Ana Zapata actively participated in Mexican politics throughout her life. Even though Ana Zapata maintained good relationships with the ruling party politicians, at a young age she became seriously engaged in at least two struggles that were not synchronized with that party’s agenda: the women’s suffrage movement and a presidential campaign for an opposing candidate. She was the most prominent suffragist in the State of Morelos (Mexico).This work shows how the social and symbolic capital that Ana Zapata learned to accrue since she was young strengthened her agency. She made alliances with other suffragists and with the ruling party politicians. Yet she used her symbolic and social capital to benefit people in her community.

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