First Feminist Congress of Yucatán

The First Feminist Congress of Yucatán (Spanish: Primer Congreso Feminista de Yucatán) was a conference that took place from 13 to 16 January 1916 at the Peón Contreras Theater in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico. The congress brought together 620 delegates, primarily teachers, to discuss and propose reforms for women's social, educational, and legal rights. It was Mexico's first feminist congress and the second in Latin America after the First International Women's Congress, which was held in Argentina in 1910.

Yucatán was a vital hub for Mexican feminism in the late 19th century. Amidst the Mexican Revolution, Yucatán Governor Salvador Alvarado advocated for women's education and introduced labor reforms for women. Alvarado sponsored the congress, which was announced in October 1915 and meticulously planned by an organizing committee led by Consuelo Zavala to address key questions regarding women's freedom, schooling, careers, and role in public life. The opening day of the congress was marked by controversy after the reading of Hermila Galindo's paper on women's sexuality, which led to protests and calls for the paper's destruction. Soon after, the congress fractured into conservative, moderate, and radical factions. Subsequent debates centered on education, civil code reform, and women's suffrage. Though initial positions on suffrage varied, the congress ultimately unanimously approved a petition for women over 21 to hold local office and vote in municipal elections.

The congress garnered international attention and prompted a second congress in late 1916. Its calls for civil code reform directly influenced the 1917 Law of Family Relations, which significantly expanded married women's financial and legal rights. It is considered a foundational event in the history of Mexican feminism. However, some historians, such as Anna Macías and Stephanie J. Smith, argue that the congress's restrictive criteria for participation marginalized working-class and Maya women.