Emma Godoy

She was born on March 25, 1918, in Guanajuato. The daughter of Abigail Lobato and Enrique Godoy, she was the youngest of 15 siblings. She spent her early years in her hometown until, at the age of eight, she moved with her entire family to Mexico City, settling in the neighborhood. Her early fascination with storytelling was inspired by tales from her nanny Brígida. ==Professional work==

She taught at several institutions, including the Escuela Normal Superior, the Universidad del Claustro de Sor Juana, and the Autonomous University of Guadalajara. She was a member of the Mexican Society of Philosophy and the International Academy of Philosophy of Art. She was member of the board of the National Institute of Senility ), adviser for the Mexican Society of Philosophy () and honorary chairman of the Philosophy Ateneum of the Universidad Panamericana. ==Literary work==

Emma Godoy was a writer of poetry, fiction, essays, and art criticism. Her writing often explored themes such as spirituality, solitude, eroticism, and existential anxiety. She published 18 books. Notable works include: • Pausas y arena (1948) • Caín el Hombre (1950) • Érase un hombre pentafásico (1961) • Sombras de magia (1968) • La mujer en su año y en sus siglos (1975) • El Arte de Envejecer (1975) • El Tiempo y Yo (1980) • Antología de la Vejez (1981) • La mera verdad o ¿puros cuentos? (1985) • Apocalipsis (1986) • El secreto para amar (1989) Her novel Érase un hombre pentafásico earned her the Ibero-American Novel Award from the William Faulkner Foundation in 1962. Godoy contributed to several publications, including Ábside (1940), a cultural magazine; she also took part in The book and the people () in 1963; in Fine arts notebooks () in 1964; and in the supplement México in the High Culture () of the newspaper Novedades. ==Radio==

Emma Godoy used radio to connect with people and share her ideas, especially about how older adults should be treated with respect and dignity. In the 1970s, she began giving talks on XEW, the best-known radio station in Mexico City. She participated in the radio programs Daily Talks (), Our Home (), and The World of Women (). Her radio shows were friendly and easy to understand. She spoke about aging, how to stay emotionally healthy, and how people should keep learning and growing no matter their age. Her goal was to help older adults feel proud of who they are and to teach society to value their wisdom. Emma made complicated ideas simple, so everyone could understand and feel inspired. She became a voice for change, encouraging older people to take part in life and society. Although there are few recordings of her programs, her radio work is still remembered. The Mexican Radio Institute (IMER) honored her in a podcast series called Autorretratos, showing how important her voice was on the air. She also became popular through her radio program Dialogue between generations (), where she promoted dialogue between young and older generations, encouraging mutual respect and understanding. ==Advocacy for elder rights==

In 1973, Emma Godoy founded and led Dignification of Old Age (DIVE) (), an association to promote the rights of the elderly, under the motto: "Old age should be teacher, advisor, and guide." Her efforts were instrumental in the creation of the first public institution dedicated to the care of old age: the National Institute for the Elderly (INSEN) by the Mexican government in 1979, which later became the National Institute for Older Adults (INAPAM). This institution continues to support and implement programs benefiting older adults in Mexico. ==Personal life==

Emma Godoy never married and had no children. In 1949 she met Chilean writer Gabriela Mistral, the recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1945, and the two became good friends. Gabriela and Emma shared the same last name: Gabriela Mistral was only a pseudonym, since her real name was Lucila Godoy Alcayaga. Mistral wrote letters to Godoy, visited her in Mexico, and dedicated poems to her. In 1968, as a homage 10 years after Mistral died, Emma published Antología de Gabriela Mistral : momentos de su vida y de su obra. Godoy died on July 30, 1989, in Mexico City. In 2006, her remains were moved to the Rotunda of Illustrious Persons in the Panteón Civil de Dolores, in Mexico City. She is one of only eight women buried there, alongside Ángela Peralta, Virginia Fábregas, Rosario Castellanos, María Lavalle Urbina, Amalia González Caballero, María Izquierdo and Dolores del Río. == Awards and recognition ==

Emma Godoy's contributions were acknowledged both nationally and internationally: On March 25, 2022, Google honoured Emma Godoy with a Doodle commemorating her 103rd birthday. ==References==