A young girl, Adriana Arce is born in Uruguay; she was named after her paternal grandmother. Adriana’s profession is a hint into her roots; she was raised with her grandparents in Uruguay and studied at a Catholic School. Since the school is part of the hierarchy, it’s quite possible that this contributed to the nature of her character, as well as her natural inclination toward leadership.
Adriana was very close to her grandmother, whom she referred to as “the queen.” As a child, Adriana was often excluded from decisions regarding her family; however, once she began to mature and enter the university, she became more involved in the social life of her university, and she soon discovered that her grandparents always had the final say regarding everything regarding her future, as her status was that of “nationality.” Her grandmother always used to say that nationality was nothing more than a birthmark, a physical trait given by the earth upon its creation. The truth was, her nationality was much more than a mark; it was an incredible combination of memory, personality, values, and beliefs that were woven together through the years. In the end, when Adriana was ready to settle down and marry, her grandmother often insisted that she wed the man of her choice even if her own desires were always true, and despite the fact that many young Uruguayans did marry overseas during those days, Adriana refused to compromise her principles.
Adriana Arce is a fascinating example of the way that nationality influences a person’s sense of self-worth and direction in life. Her status as a dual nationality, as a product of a broken home, and as a lover of Argentina’s culture attest to her commitment to the struggles of her country and her love of all mankind. In marriage, she fulfilled not only the role of a loyal wife, but also of loyal friend to her husband throughout their married life. Her commitment to her ideals and her unique personality makes her a valuable commodity today: as we celebrate International Women’s Day, we should remember that the very definition of womanhood is greatly influenced by nationality and by choosing to be part of the Argentinaan womanhood during the years of the 1920s and the First World War.