The University of Buenos Aires conferred a degree in dentistry upon Sara Justo in July 1901, marking her as one of the first four women to achieve this qualification in Argentina. Her career moved rapidly from clinical practice to the systematic advancement of women's professional and political standing throughout the early 20th century.
Professional Foundations
Born in Buenos Aires on 5 February 1870, Sara Justo was the daughter of Aurora Castro and Juan Felipe Justo. She grew up in a household with nine siblings, including her brother Juan Bautista Justo, who established the Argentine Socialist Party. Her academic trajectory led her to the newly formed Dental School at the University of Buenos Aires. Upon her 1901 graduation, she joined a pioneering cohort of female practitioners that included Leonilda Rosa Meneclier, Catalina Marni, and Antonia Arroyo. Following her tenure as a dentist, she transitioned into the field of education, directing the Paula Albarracín de Sarmiento Professional School for Women where she instructed students in home economics and childcare.
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Justo occupied a central position in the burgeoning Argentine women's rights movement. In 1904, she supported the establishment of the Association of Argentine University Women, led by Cecilia Grierson and Petrona Eyle. By 1905, she partnered with Julieta Lanteri and Elvira Rawson to create the Feminist Center of Argentina. Her public advocacy gained momentum in 1906 when she was encouraged by Spanish politician Belén de Sárraga to pursue women's political enfranchisement. The subsequent year, Justo and Alicia Moreau established the Women's Pro-Suffrage Committee with the explicit goal of advancing the material and moral emancipation of women across all social strata.
Legislative and International Influence
The ideological approach to suffrage caused some friction between Justo and Moreau, as Justo advocated for a gradual implementation while Moreau favoured immediate universal access. Despite these tactical disagreements, they collaborated with Petrona Eyle, Lanteri, and Rawson to draft a comprehensive petition on women's rights. Submitted to the Argentine Chamber of Deputies by Alfredo Palacios in 1911, this document provided the foundation for the Civil Rights Act of 1926. Justo expanded her influence through journalism, writing extensively on feminism for the newspaper El Diario and presenting on European feminist developments at a 1909 conference. Her international involvement included serving as treasurer for the First International Women's Congress in 1910, representing the National Association of Teachers at the 1925 International Congress of Social Economy, and participating in the Third International Women's Congress in 1928. She remained in Buenos Aires until her death on 6 October 1941.
Fast facts
- Born: 5 February 1870, Buenos Aires
- Died: 6 October 1941, Buenos Aires
- Education: University of Buenos Aires, 1901
- Primary Occupations: Dentist, educator, activist
- Co-founder: Feminist Center of Argentina, 1905
- Co-founder: Women's Pro-Suffrage Committee, 1907
Questions readers ask
What was Sara Justo's professional background?
She was one of the first four women dentists to graduate from the University of Buenos Aires in 1901, though she later transitioned into teaching and advocacy.
Did Sara Justo help secure the Civil Rights Act of 1926?
Yes, she worked with other activists to draft a petition that was presented to the Argentine Chamber of Deputies in 1911, forming the basis of that legislation.
