Rosa Torre González

María Rosa Torre González (30 August 1890 – 13 February 1973) was born in the state of Yucatán, Mexico. She was the first woman in Mexico to hold an elected office.

Early life María Rosa Torre González was born on August 30, 1890, in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico to Sofía Torre. Her grandparents were Paula González and Gregorio Torre, whose surnames she used to conceal being an illegitimate child. She attended the Girls' Literary Institute operated by Rita Cetina Gutiérrez, an innovative teacher who rejected teaching girls only domestic skills, instead teaching feminist theory in a curriculum also including astronomy, constitutional law, geometry, geography, history, and mathematics. By March, 1915, Alvarado's troops had taken the city of Mérida and Torre entered the state Normal School. Torre served as a promoter for the gathering, traveling to Acanceh, Temax and Motul to boost the attendance of qualified women. In January 1916 the Primer Congreso Feminista (First Feminist Congress) was held and topics discussed were education, including sex education; religious fanaticism; legal rights and reforms; equal employment opportunity; and intellectual equality, among others. In coordination with Elvia Carrillo Puerto, Torre set up over 45 feminist leagues over the next few years and organized over 5,500 workers. Torre ran for a seat on the Mérida city council and won, becoming the first woman in Mexico to hold elective office. Her term was cut short with the assassination of Carrillo Puerto, but Torre was proud of her service and aware that the achievement was a symbol for other women.

Torre attended the Primer Congreso Interamericano de Mujeres (First Inter-American Congress of Women) held on August 27, 1947, in Guatemala City, which had the goal of discussing how to attain equality between men and women and suffrage throughout the Americas. Torre was the delegate of Liga Internacional y People's Mandate of Querétaro and was accompanied by Judith Horcasitas de Forgerave, representing the Civil Service of Mexican Women; Emilia Loyola, representing the teachers of Mexico City; and Elena Sánchez Valenzuela, representing teachers and the Secretary of Education of Coahuila.

Personal life María Rosa Torre González died alone in Mexico City, on 13 February 1973.