From Suffrage Movements to #MeToo: The Enduring Global Fight for Gender Equality
Originally published by Isabela De los Rios Hernández for Harvard International Review
“While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last.” These were Kamala Harris’ historic remarks during her victory speech after being elected as the first female US vice president. Her achievement is one example of women rising to leadership roles worldwide in recent years, from CEOs like Jane Fraser of Citigroup and world leaders such as President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission. This growing presence of women in positions of power reflects their determination to shape the future and amplify their voices in a world that, just a century ago, was dominated by men.
This change was made possible by the pioneering efforts of the female suffrage movements that began in the Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, highlighting women’s demand for a political voice to influence education, economics, and society as a whole. This article delves into the evolution of feminist waves and their transformative impact on Western society while exploring the challenges and opportunities for the modern feminist movements in achieving gender equality globally.
How Did We Get Here?
When one thinks of the female suffrage movements, the most familiar examples often come from the United Kingdom and the United States. However, women’s leagues emerged in all corners of the world. In New Zealand, for instance, female suffragists rallied women from all walks of life to gather petitions, demonstrating widespread public support for a bill granting women the right to vote. The suffrage movement had a broad enough base of working-class, rural, and educated elite populations to strengthen their argument in parliament. In 1893, New Zealand became the first country to pass a bill granting women’s suffrage.