By Edith Loyola 
Born in Mexico City on June 16, 1930, Ifigenia Martínez y Hernández (1930-2024) was one of the most emblematic figures in Mexico’s political and academic history. Her legacy as an economist, social activist, and pioneer in the fight for women’s rights marked a turning point in the country’s public life. From her key role in shaping economic policies to her participation in pivotal moments of Mexican democracy, Martínez broke barriers that seemed insurmountable and paved the way for generations of women.
Academic Background and Early Achievements
In 1950, she earned her degree in Economics from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), and shortly after, in 1957, she became the first Mexican woman to earn a master’s and a doctorate in Economics from Harvard University. Her academic success was a milestone not only for herself but for all Mexican women aspiring to overcome the traditional limitations imposed by society.
Academic and Professional Contributions
Upon returning to Mexico, Martínez embarked on a prolific academic career. She served as a professor of Public Finance at UNAM and engaged in research at the Institute of Economic Research at the same institution. Throughout her career, she published influential works such as “The Distribution of Income and Economic Development in Mexico” and “Mexico’s Fiscal Policy”, which delved into the structural issues of the Mexican economy and offered solutions to promote equitable growth.
In 1967, she was appointed Director of the National School of Economics at UNAM, becoming the first woman to lead the faculty. In this position, she spearheaded educational reforms and inspired a new generation of economists dedicated to addressing the country’s social challenges.
Defense of Human Rights and Activism
In 1968, amidst the student movement that rocked Mexico, Ifigenia Martínez stood as a defender of university autonomy. She denounced government repression and condemned the military’s intervention in UNAM, a stance that led to her brief detention by authorities. Despite the challenges, her commitment to social justice and human rights never wavered.
Her active participation in these events solidified her as a key figure in the defense of civil rights in Mexico. Over the years, she continued fighting for equality and freedom across various fronts.
Political Career and Reforms
Ifigenia Martínez’s entry into politics was a natural extension of her social activism. In 1976, she was elected as a federal deputy for the first time. Later, in 1988, she became one of the founders of the National Democratic Front (FDN), a movement that challenged the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and backed Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas as a presidential candidate in one of the most controversial elections in the country’s history.
A year later, in 1989, she co-founded the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), where she tirelessly worked for the democratization of the country and the creation of more inclusive policies. Her efforts within the PRD were fundamental in consolidating the Mexican left as a significant political force.
In 2014, after decades of militancy, she decided to join the Morena movement, led by Andrés Manuel López Obrador, convinced that it represented the best platform to continue her fight for social justice. Although her shift generated some criticism within the PRD, Martínez consistently maintained that her commitment was not to a party but to the principles of equity and democracy.
Recognitions and Final Public Appearance
Throughout her life, Ifigenia Martínez received numerous accolades for her invaluable contributions to the country. In 2021, the Senate of the Republic awarded her the Belisario Domínguez Medal, the highest legislative honor in Mexico, in recognition of her relentless fight for social justice and women’s rights.
Her final public appearance came on October 1, 2024, when at 94 years old, she presided over the presidential transition ceremony, handing the presidential sash to Claudia Sheinbaum, the first woman to serve as President of Mexico. This act was a symbolic conclusion to her public life, marking the achievement of a goal central to her lifelong struggle: the full participation of women in the highest spheres of power.
The Legacy of Ifigenia Martínez
For many Mexicans, Ifigenia Martínez was much more than a political or academic leader—she embodied the collective advancement of Mexican women in their fight for equality and justice. Born in 1930, during a time when women could neither vote nor hold political office, she witnessed the social changes that allowed women to exercise their right to vote for the first time in 1953. She was, herself, a pillar in the construction of those rights.
From those early days to the moment she handed the presidential sash to Mexico’s first female president, Martínez symbolized the progress and achievements won by the women of the country.