Irene Polo Roig (27 November 1909 - 3 April 1942) was a Spanish journalist, publicist, theater representative, and translator. She was one of the first women journalists in the Catalan press. Polo, who favored labor rights, participated in the creation of "l'Agrupació Professional de Periodistes" (Association of Professional Journalists). Because of the Spanish Civil War, she lived the last three years of her life in exile in Buenos Aires, where she committed suicide at the age of 32.
The Second Republic would usher in a period where women had more rights under
the law, and where women were politically empowered for the first time.
Homosexuality was also stripped from the penal code, though there were still
ways for which lesbians could be charged, for example by being deemed
dangerous to the state, or simply being detained by the state even if their
behavior was not criminal. Prominent lesbians of this period included
Lucía Sánchez
Saornil, América Barroso,
Margarita Xirgu,
Irene Polo,
Carmen de Burgos,
María de Maeztu,
Victoria Kent and
Victoria Ocampo.
Irene Polo Roig was born in Barcelona, 27 November 1909. Her father,
Antonio Polo, a policeman, died young. Her mother was Francisca Roig. Like
many other women of the time, Polo did not have easy access to education or
university studies, and had to learn on her own.[1]
She moved to Madrid in 1914.
Before she made a career in journalism, she worked as head of publicity for
the film production company Gaumont.[1]
Polo began her journalism career with the magazine Mirador in 1930, and
worked professionally in Barcelona until 1936. The articles published during
those years in Imatges, La Humanitat, La Rambla,
L'Opinió, L'Instant, and Última Hora are characterized as an
ironic and brilliant testimony of the society and politics of that time. There
were articles on fashion, such as the introduction of women's trousers and the
appearance of the neckline, to reports of denunciation of social life, begging
in Barcelona, the poor living conditions of workers and immigrants, and
political alertness, including the story in which she pretends to be a
follower of the National Action Youth or the articles devoted to censorship,
when she herself was a victim. As a special envoy, she reported on events such
as the trial in Madrid of the Catalan Government for the events of October
1934, or the revolutionary strikes in the mines of Sallent and Súria. Polo
favored labor right, and in the previous year, she participated in the
creation of "l'Agrupació Professional de Periodistes" (Association of
Professional Journalists).[1][2]
In 1936, Polo went to the United States, as a representative of Margarita
Xirgu's theatrical company. When the company was dissolved in 1939, Polo could
not return to Barcelona because of the Spanish Civil War. Instead, she lived
in exile in Buenos Aires with her mother and sisters, who were able to flee
the war.[3]
There, she worked as a French and English language translator for the
publishers, Losada and Sopena, and she served as advertising director for Dana
perfumeries, a job she did not like because of the long hours. Polo fell into
depression because her love for Xirgu was not reciprocated,[2]
and committed suicide at the age of 32, in Buenos Aires, 3 April 1942.[1]
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