Espín de Castro, Vilma (1934–)

Cuban revolutionary and women's activist. Name variations: Vilma Espín Guillois; Vilma Espín or Espin; Deborah. Pronunciation: Ess-PEEN dav KAH-strow. Born Vilma Espín Guillois in 1934 in Santiago de Cuba; dau. of a lawyer for the Bacardi Rum Company and a mother of French extraction; sister of Nilsa Espín Guillois; earned a degree in chemical engineering at Universidad de Oriente; attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology and studied architecture; m. Raúl Castro, Jan 26, 1959; children: 4 sons.

Long-time president of the Federación de Mujeres Cubanas (Federation of Cuban Women), began her political education with the anti-Batista movement following Batista's coup; was a founding member and leader of the 26th of July Movement in Oriente Province, Cuba (1955–759); after Fidel's brother Raúl established a "second front" in the Sierra Cristal of northern Oriente Province, remained in the Sierra until the triumph of the revolution, working hard to create, among other duties, an administrative network responsible for the maintenance of 11 hospitals and dispensaries, and 100 schools staffed by 26th of July Movement personnel; became Raúl's secretary and served as a translator (1958); married Raúl (Jan 26, 1959), just after Batista fled and Fidel came to power; was a founder and president of the Federación de Mujeres Cubanas (FMC, Federation of Cuban Women, 1960); also worked as chemical engineer for the Ministerio de la Industria Alimenticia (Food Industry Ministry); made an alternate member of the Politburo of the Cuban Communist Party (1980) and a full member (1986); retired from the Politburo (1991); left her mark on the revolution and struck several blows for women's rights in Cuba and in the world.

See also Women in World History.