Worldwide, the 20th century saw a trend of increasing women's rights, and the period from 1930 to 1940 would be a time of intense activity from female organizations.
FECHIF itself was preceded by the creation of the Pro-Emancipation Movement of Chilean Women (MEMCH) in 1935, which sought to organize and create a progressive conscience in the country.
[2] In January 1941, Chilean President Pedro Aguirre Cerda, together with FECHIF, presented to the Senate a plan written by Elena Caffarena and Flor Heredia to allow female voting.
This meeting directly led to the creation of FECHIF with the principal goal of fighting for political rights for women, mainly suffrage.
[7] Tensions provoked by polarization and the Cold War influenced Videla to take an anti-communist position and issue the Law of Permanent Defense of Democracy in 1948, banning the Communist Party of Chile.