In Puerto Rico, an initiative is working to give greater representation and visibility to women who have been key figures in the country's history.
Calles con nombre de mujer, a proposal led by Garage Isla Verde and backed by Rep. Héctor Ferrer Santiago and five other legislators from the Partido Popular Democrático, aims to rename several streets on the Island to honor distinguished women such as Ruth Fernández, Eneid Routte Gómez, Nilita Vientós Gastón and Sylvia del Villard Moreno.
The measure, which seeks to become the "Ley de equidad al nombrar estructuras y Vías Públicas en el Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico," also known as the "Ley 50/50," has received vocal approval from the House of Representatives.
In Ferrer Santiago's words, it "marks an important milestone toward gender equality in our society, as its purpose is to promote equality between men and women in the naming of structures, public roads and real property in Puerto Rico."
Ferrer Santiago added that approximately "22% of the country's schools bear a woman's name, that barely 8% of Puerto Rico's public housing projects carry women's names, and that only about 6% of sports facilities have a woman's name."
In the context of International Women's Day, we look at some streets on the Puerto Rican map that carry women's names.
Calle Santa María
The Catholic influence on the Island extended to Puerto Rico's streets as well. Several municipalities, for example, carry the names of recognized female saints, as is the case with Calle Santa María in San Juan, Cataño, Caguas and Bayamón.
Calle Santa Cecilia (San Juan)
Santa Cecilia is known as the Patron Saint of Musicians, but this came about through a translation error from Latin. According to Monsignor Marcos Pavan, choirmaster of the Capilla Sixtina, the virgin and martyr "was not a musician, did not sing and did not play." However, one text describes that on her wedding day she "prayed candentibus organis," meaning "while the instruments of torture were burning."
Camino Julia de Burgos, Carolina
It is no surprise that the municipality of Carolina has honored one of its own. The Puerto Rican poet, known for poems such as "Río Grande de Loíza," "Yo misma fui mi ruta" and "La íntima agonía," has a road named in her honor in that town.
A block with a women's touch, Bayamón
On average, Puerto Rico has numerous streets with women's names that do not necessarily carry any political or historical context. In Bayamón, for example, there is a block near Rexville whose streets are named Nancy, Cristina, Amalia, Sandy and Alicia, among others.
Can you imagine coming across a busy street named after a distinguished Puerto Rican woman? It could not only lead you to learn more about her, but you would also see the value that would be added to this Island.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
