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During our research in the town of Bilbao, as we learned about the contributions Casilda Iturrizar made to its society, we could only comprehend her invisibility upon realizing that she was a conservative and religious woman. The barriers often imposed by certain sectors regarding the definition of feminism and who is deemed eligible to be a feminist—typically excluding women from lower social classes, diverse academic backgrounds, and varying political ideologies—have historically contributed to the invisibility of women who did not belong to these specific groups, yet whose contributions have nonetheless significantly improved the situation of women and society as a whole. 

Recently has been published the research, in a top-ranked international scientific journal classified as JCR-Q2, that recognizes the value of Casilda Iturrizar’s contributions to the town of Bilbao. Her legacy is present in many of the remarkable places that define the town.

It was very relevant to be able to carry out the research at the streets of Bilbao, specifically in one of the most emblematic places of the town and that, despite bearing her name, many people only recognize as the “park of the ducks”. 

On a personal level, we are very grateful to have participated in research that places Casilda in her rightful place and returns her to the community. This is the feminism that gives voice to all women who have contributed to society, in contrast to what many so-called “feminists” have tried to silence because they did not fit their personal beliefs. Recognizing the figure of Doña Casilda in feminism brings us back the important truth of her contributions to the creation of the University of Deusto, the Arriaga Theatre, the House of Mercy, Athletic Bilbao, or the University of Deusto among others.

A study like this would not have been possible without the women and men of science who have always defended the truth and recognized, from a dialogical feminism, those individuals who, regardless of their religious beliefs or political ideologies, have sought to improve society.

Carrying out the research in an egalitarian dialogue and in friendship is what allowed us to shed any prejudices and recognize and investigate the impact of Casilda’s actions on the town of Bilbao. Doing the research through this egalitarian dialogue, alongside researchers who have been working for years to incorporate the voices of all people into research and all women into feminism, has allowed us to discover Casilda’s contributions. Therefore, it is thanks to the courage of all those outstanding people, both scientifically and humanly, that it has been possible to recover and publish the legacy of such an important woman as Casilda Iturrizar.

Predoctoral researcher at the University of Barcelona

Predoctoral Researcher in Training (FPI - Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities) at the Department of Sociology in the University of Barcelona.