The objectives of this study are: 1. To review the proposals of philanthropic entities, organized and managed by women in the first half of the 20th century; 2. To rethink the role they played elaborating programs and establishing public policies; 3. To call attention to the need of reviewing the Brazilian feminist movement. The guide for these topics will be based on the analysis of the maternalist discourse. The research was based on documents from the archives of the Cruzada Pró Infância (Crusade Pro-Childhood) an entity founded in the city of Sao Paulo in 1930. It will focus on the proposals for maternity protection elaborated by Pérola Byington, its managing director between 1930-1945.
Maternalism; Feminism; State Policy; Philanthropic Activities; Pérola Byington; Cruzada Pró-Infância