Urban growth

In the early twentieth century, large cities were considered as the most complete and perfect of modernization
of society expression.
Thanks to the emergence of the middle class, linked to urban activities such as trade, work on infrastructure
projects and positions in the bureaucracy, showed a great development of cities, including Buenos Aires and
highlighted San Pablo.
Large cities were flooded with new buildings: luxury homes, streets and avenues; utilities such as water and
electricity were installed; and transport as the tram were introduced.
Homeownership became a sign of prestige in the race for social advancement as important as education.
Growth of suburban areas inhabited by the immigrants or the poor people in the cities, did not have any
services.
Mass society
In the twenties, the masses, formed by the popular sectors and media began to reclaim their right to access
different areas and activities.
In some cases, they succeeded in fact, concurring to streets, avenues and boulevards that were the monopoly
of elites before breaking into colleges and universities, filling the places of fun and leisure.
In other cases, the pressure of these social sectors determined to amend the law, as in the case of political
participation in countries such as Argentina, Uruguay and Chile.
Increased media, newspapers and magazines and papers carried news of a new generation of intellectuals who
helped create currents of opinion.
Incrementing bookstores and library users; the emergence of film and radio consolidated media for mass
information and culture.
Women: A new social actor
Towards the Twenties begins the process of emancipation of women.
The experience of European and American women during World War II, joining as labor in industries
encouraged many women in Latin America to claim their rights to equality before the masculine and patriarchal
society.
Access of women to work in factories, in offices, in public services, in the professions represented a growing
social weight of women.
They also demanded their right to vote and participate in political life.
The changes were slow and progressive because classical social models remained majority, maintaining the
primacy of men over women.
The woman space reserved largely followed home and the role of wife and mother.
WORKSHOP
1. How was considered the big cities in the early twentieth century?
2. How was the middle class in the cities of Bueno Aires and San Pablo?
3. What were the new changes in the big cities?
4. How much prestige housing had in this century?
5. Who were suburban areas?
6. What were some cases they got for the popular and middle sectors?
7. What happened in Argentina, Uruguay and Chile from the political field?
8. What were the factors that increased positively in these countries?
9. What were the fields in which women have been being involved in Latin America?