Juan and Eva Perón were political partners. Neither could have reached the pinnacle of political power in Argentina without the other. There were, however, dangers inherent in their political relationship. Eva Perón’s high-profile role in Argentine political life opened her up to charges of behaving in too “masculine” a manner. Moreover, Eva Perón’s prominence always contained within it a threat to Juan Perón’s masculinity. Who, their opponents asked, was the “man” in their marriage? Would a “real man” allow his wife to overshadow him as Eva Perón often seemed to do? Keep this issue in mind as you examine this photograph of Eva Perón delivering a campaign speech on behalf of her husband. How might the Peróns’ political enemies have used photographs such as this one to attack the Peróns’?

Questions to Consider