Running head: WOMENS SUFFRAGE

Womens Suffrage: Literature Review

Melissa Rodriguez
University of Texas at El Paso

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Abstract

The efforts of many men and women on their fight for womens suffrage have made a
difference on society. These have not just been beneficial to women in regard to equality or a
better perspective. Women have been responsible for better futures of many children, for
improving bad situations of poverty, improved laws, and other issues that have had an influence
on the lives of many people. The purpose of this literary review is to identify the efforts together
with events that happened during the womens suffrage movement, this shall focus on the effects
that have taken place ever since the 19th amendment and will help build a better knowledge of
the subject matter. This research will be based on four main questions that will guide its audience
to comprehend the basic and new information presented. Strategies utilized by women during the
womens suffrage movement and the important relationship between the civil rights movement
and womens suffragists will be studied to gather important knowledge. This knowledge will
then guide its audience to understand the impact of American and womens societies together
with womens political roles. Primary research was done throughout one of the questions; an
interview was conducted to serve as support for some of the research that was already done.
Other than this literature review providing with a better understanding of the womens suffrage
event, it will also serve as basis for improved insightful ideas and decisions.

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Womens Suffrage: Literature Review

For the first time in 1920, many American women were able to vote. This right
was acquired after more than 70 years. It was not easy, throughout this movement there were
disagreements. One of them was strategy, this issue between activists and reformers more than
once almost led the movement to be put out of action. Different groups contributed to the new
perspective about women in the United States. This campaign began previous decades before the
Civil War. Many states had given the right to vote to white men during the 1820s and 1830s.
During this time there were many reform groups in which women played important roles. These
included abolitionist activists, religious movements, and others. After the Civil War the 14th and
15th Amendments gave protection to African American male citizens and approved of their right
to vote. Women on the other hand, were still not given that right. This led to issues regarding
womens perspective and the 15th Amendment to the Constitution. The fight continued, the first
states that began to extend the vote to women happened to do it during the year of 1910. The 19th
Amendment was then ratified August 18, 1920. The right of citizens of the United States to vote
shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex (U.S.
Const. amend. XIX).
Effects of womens suffrage are important to consider. As a result of woman acquiring
the right to vote, there has been improvement on society. Peoples perspective of women has
changed significantly. Women have been taking over men roles not just in politics but also in
other areas. The equality woman have been fighting for has been increasing ever since the past
times. By acknowledging these events the successes of American and woman society can keep
taking place and even increase. Previous research however, needs to be taken into consideration
before taking these types of decisions. The question of how the effects of womens suffrage

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have improved or even taken place should be kept in mind. Basic knowledge is also
fundamental. This can be accomplished through review of the four major questions below:
1. What was the relationship between the Civil Rights Movement and the Womens
Suffragist Movement?
2. What were some of the strategies used by women when trying to acquire the right to
vote?
3. What roles do women now play in politics, are these roles equivalent to their male
counterparts, in number and perceived political power?
4. How has the right to vote by women made an impact on the future of women and
American society?
The literature review by the use of these questions shall offer information about the background
of the womens suffrage event as well as provide with the effects that have taken place on
society for better perceptive ideas stimulating change of action.
What was the relationship between the Civil Rights Movement and the Womens
Suffragist Movement?
Since 1848 women demanded their right to vote. In July 1848, the Seneca Falls
convention which was the first womens rights convention stimulated the presence of many
woman and men. In this convention feminists demanded complete citizenship. These feminists
such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott held the idea that complete citizenship meant
for women not to be limited to roles such as of mothers and housewives. The different reform
movements present around that time fought for their best step of action. Two important
movements included the womens suffragists and abolitionist activists. Both endorsed to the
extension of equality and liberty for women and African Americans.

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The Civil War between citizens and states ended slavery, however, harmed the women's
rights movement. Susan B. Anthony played an important role in the womens suffrage
movement. After the Civil War she believed that during that time it was their best shot at pushing
for total universal suffrage. She decided to turn down the 15th amendment in which black men
were given the right to vote. Anthony decided to ally with anti-abolitionist southerners. She
declared, I will cut off this right arm of mine before I will ever work or demand the ballot for the
Negro and not the woman. (Black Women & The Suffrage Movement, n.d., para. 4). On the
other hand, other individuals thought that it was unfair to put African Americans
enfranchisement by binding it to the female suffrage campaign. Women such as Sojourner Truth
who would experience struggles for her freedom of slavery supported womens rights strongly.
After the 15th amendment had already taken place she stated, I feel that I have the right to have
just as much as a man. There is a great stir about colored men getting their rights, but not a word
about the colored women; and if colored men get their rights, and colored women not theirs, the
colored men will be masters over the women, and it will be just as bad as it was before.(Black
Women & The Suffrage Movement, n.d., para. 4).
Disagreements between those who favored and didnt support the 15th amendment
vanished. The National American Woman Suffrage Association was the product of these two
groups. This Associations purpose had now changed. Its main foundation leaders were Susan B.
Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Instead of arguing that women deserved the same rights
and responsibilities as men because women and men were created equal, the new generation of
activists argued that women deserved the vote because they were different from men. This
organizations aim was to unite forces in order to fight for universal suffrage. They wanted for
this to take place without putting at risk the 15th amendment. They could make their domesticity

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into political virtue, using the franchise to create a purer, more moral maternal commonwealth.
(The fight for womens suffrage, n.d., para 7). The figure below demonstrates the foundation
leaders of the organization in which Anthony and Stanton are present.
Fig 1. Officers and state presidents of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA).

Source: C.C. Catt Albums. (1892). The National American Woman Suffrage Association.
Retrieved from http://www.brynmawr.edu/library/exhibits/suffrage/nawsa.html

How has the right to vote by women made an impact on the future of women and
American society?
Nowadays there are a few differences between men and women. More equality is present.
Throughout the 1900s there existed sexism. Men were the dominant gender. Women were
known to serve as just housewives and mothers. Certain women such as Susan B. Anthony and
Elizabeth Stanton decided to play a very important role in the woman suffrage movement, while
others decided not to take charge and conform to their roles as housewives. Some women were
rarely able to land a job. It didnt matter anyway, because the day they got married, they would
get fired and be forced to take on the role of a homemaker. (Paris, 2009). Some of the job

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choices that were available for women were domestic servants, secretaries, teachers, salesclerks,
etc. Women were not able to work in mens typical jobs. The amount of money offered to a
woman in comparison to a male job was low. Equality was not yet achieved in the 1950s and
early 1960s. During the 1950s men had a higher amount of professional jobs. In present time a
great difference is able to be noticed, theres female actors, female doctors, female lawyers,
female politicians, etc. There still exists a few female discrimination but not as before. The figure
below represents the amount of men and women employers during the 1920s in comparison to
the 1970s. The women representing this graphic are from ages 16 to 70 or more. The women are
from every color and race. These women are married, single, widowed, divorced, and separated.
During the 1970s women had outnumbered men with jobs held.
Fig 2. Women workers vs. Male workers.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Labor. (1970). Women Workers Today.

Retrieved from http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6471/

The right to vote by women hasnt only made on impact on the future of women
increasing equality such as with job positions and the several jobs they hold, but also on the
future of American society. Women have been responsible for advocating better job
opportunities. Sex education, birth control, fair wages, and education have been other issues
women have been fighting for ever since acquiring their right to vote. After women were
enfranchised, candidates catered to women in an effort to get elected, and women took

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advantage, advocating for laws that would allow them to have individual economic security,
such as inheritance and divorce lawsWomen voted and eventually ran for office to improve
not only government but also their individual lives. (Williamson, 2013).
What were some of the strategies used by women when trying to acquire the right to
vote?
Some of the tactics used by the militant wing of the womens suffrage movement were
petitioning, picketing, pageants, parades, hunger strikes, imprisonment, and demonstrations.
Portraits of organization members and leaders were also used for this cause. Some of the
strategies and tactics that were introduced to the suffrage campaign were those that were
stimulated by its own leaders background with militant wing. The movements aim was to
create public interest, to attract publicity, and overall to try to pressure the government for their
support on their goal of womens right to vote. If this were to happen suffragists would win a
federal amendment to the U.S. constitution in which women would have their right to vote
guaranteed. The distribution of pamphlets, open-air demonstrations, organization of parades and
pageants, petitions, nationwide suffrage speakers, picketing of congressional office buildings and
the White House, and encountering arrest and imprisonment all helped to attain the 19th
amendment to the constitution. Not only were strategies pursued before acquiring the 19th
amendment, but also afterwards. A campaign which was launched by the National Womans
Party (NWP) was responsible for achieving economic, social, and political equality for women
around the world right after the right to vote was approved. Figure 3 demonstrates the response
from a protest in regard to suffragists having to face imprisonment.
Fig 3. Protest sign by suffragist.

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Source: Stock Montage/ Getty Images. (1909). From the archives: Suffragettes on hunger strike. Retrieved
from http://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/from-the-archive-blog/2013/may/03/suffragette-forcefeeding-1913

What roles do women now play in politics, are these roles equivalent to their male
counterparts, in number and perceived political power?
Years after the 1920s have passed and in todays generation a lot more women are
engaged in politics throughout the world. Women just like men have been responsible for
playing a role in peace building, peace negotiations, and conflict resolution. Womens political
participation is a crucial indicator of womens equality. (Verveer, 2010). The United States is
number six in womens economic participation. In 2014 the percentage of world average women
in national parliaments is 21 percent. After a series of historic wins, 40 percent of Americans
now have at least one woman representing them in the U.S. Senate, and there are no longer any
male-only state legislatures. (Center of American Progress, 2014).
Although this can be taken into consideration, women hold less than one- fifth of national
government positions. Women are still outnumbered by men in provincial councils and chambers

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of parliaments. An interview was conducted as primary research. Questions asked are in regards
to womens roles in politics. The questions are listed below.
Interview questions.
1. Would you vote for a woman to be president?
2. Is there a position in politics you think a woman shouldnt hold? Why?
3. What female politicians do you know? (Name).
4. Is a female congressman as powerful as a male congressman? Why do you
think so?
5. Do you think the roles women play in politics are important for society?

The interviewee, Harvey Enriquez, believes that a female congressman would not be as
powerful as a male congressman due to mens dominance outnumbering woman in congress.
Men outnumber women as powerful roles in politics, however, women such as Hillary Clinton,
Dilma Rouseff, and Sonia Gandhi are some of the women that have been ranked top most
powerful women in politics. Enriquez did not disagree on giving his vote to a woman president
and was able to name Sarah Palin, Hillary Clinton, and Condoleezza rice as politicians he knew
about. I believe men and women are equals and as long as the woman had the views and morals
that I believe in I dont have a problem on giving my vote to her. (H. Enriquez, personal
communication, October 25, 2014). Enriquez believes that the roles women play in politics are
important for society. I strongly believe that a woman can be in any position as any man and be a
great change in politics, as long as shes qualified for it. (H. Enriquez, personal communication,
October 25, 2014).
Conclusion
In conclusion, this literature review has studied various amounts of information. It has
answered four main questions in regard to the womens suffrage movement and its impact on
society. The present circumstances can allow not just women, but others to consider womens

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efforts. Future improvements on women society and America cannot be truly predictable.
However, this issue is something that should be furthered analyzed. The information given in this
review will have just provided individuals with basic knowledge for better insightful ideas which
can stimulate change of action hoping for an improved future. Each one of us can make a
difference. Together we make change.(Barbara Mikulski).

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References

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History.com Staff (2010). Susan B. Anthony. Retrieved October 22, 2014, from
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Black Women & The Suffrage Movement: 1848-1923. (n.d.). Retrieved October 23, 2014, from
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http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/women/news/2013/08/26/72988/womens-

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equality-day-celebrating-the-19th-amendments-impact-on-reproductive-health-andrights/
Niland, L. (2013, May 3). From the archives: Suffragettes on hunger strike. Retrieved October
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