New Zealand was the first self-governing country to grant women the vote; in 1893 all women over the age of 21 were permitted to vote in parliamentary elections. Women in South Australia achieved the same right in 1894 but became the first to obtain the right to stand (run) for Parliament. The National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies, which was founded in 1897, formed of a collection of local suffrage societies. This union was led by Millicent Fawcett, who believed in constitutional campaigning, like issuing leaflets, organizing meetings and presenting petitions. However this campaigning did not have much effect. So in 1903 Emmeline Pankhurst founded a new organization, the Women's Social and Political Union. Pankhurst thought that the movement would have to become radical and militant if it was going to be effective. The Daily Mail later gave them the name "Suffragettes".
A few historians feel that some of the suffragettes' actions actually damaged their cause. The argument was that women should not get the vote because they were too emotional and could not think as logically as men; their violent and aggressive actions were used as evidence in support of this argument.
We've come a long way, ladies!
Further proof that my girls are adorable, amazing and awesome:
These lovelies voted for the first time today. And they went together, as loving sisters do. They cracked up over the fact that they voted at their old elementary school, finding it hard to believe they were once so little.
Me too girlies, me too.
