Artists and Suffragists

From the cover page to the content, Elain Weiss' book reflects, captures, or displays visual images that contain suffragist ideologies (e.g. the colors on the front page, the flowers the suffragists used, posters, political cartoons, propagandized creative content, etc.), which made me inquire who created these images, what suffragists operated at the intersection of design and politics, and how visual content influenced and/or perpetuated ideas. Although not entirely encompassing of these questions (but in other ways, more-so), this article here explains "the role of artists in promoting the cause of women's suffrage". Many female artists joined the cause after experiencing discriminatory injustices within their own field, as male artists earned more, had access to better art classes, received access to networks, etc. Interestingly, the suffrage movement awas occurring at the same time as the arts and crafts movement was happening in the art world. "But the Arts and Crafts Movement was also political and its enlightened socialist attitudes began to permeate the art institutions and the small, female-run collectives that operated on the peripheries of the artistic establishment. Students discussed politics and read Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels and a women’s debating society was established in 1864. This learning brought into existence a cohesive and radically simple idea: if fine art was closed to women, then the domestic arts must be subverted to their advantage and used to gain female emancipation." Thus, progressive artistic, social, and political attitudes intersected at the same time. Aesthetics could therefore easily be used political tools, so it makes sense now why we've been exposed to a plethora of artistic images with embodied ideologies. 

Double Standards: POTUS

Although not from a reputable source--as far as I know--this website came up when I was reading another article about how the POTUS responds to his opponents. I want to call to attention the first website, because I can confidently say that I don't believe even for a second that if a women presidential candidate had described men--or even a man--in this fashion, the American populace and media would have torn apart that candidate and barred her from ever becoming president. It makes me wonder what international influence this disparaging of women is having, given America's place as one of the global leaders. If other countries see that America, a country that is seen as progressive in most cases, is tolerant of overt sexism, how would they themselves act? Would they feel more inclined to not act in the same manner to show that they are more developed and progressive, or will they follow suit?

Gold, White, and Violet

After the conversation last week about marching in the parade as a suffragist wearing white, I was interested to see if there were any articles that spoke about the thematic colors of gold, white, and violet. Although this isn't necessarily an article, it has colorized pictures of early suffrage marches, which I thought looked amazing. You can find the pictures here!

The Complex History of the Women’s Suffrage Movement

Wrapping up The Woman's Hour and our talk with author, Elaine Weiss, I wanted to bring this article to the forefront as I, as well as others in class, felt as if questions remain unanswered and some narratives were left with more to be desired. Culture reporter, Jennifer Schuessler, follows the story behind three telling exhibitions - "Shall Not Be Denied: Women Fight for the Vote," "Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence," and "Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote" - to capture the tumultuous, multi-dimensional history of Women's Suffrage in America. She constantly refers to it as a "piece-meal," a theme of painful progression discussed repeatedly in class, especially compared to the vastly blanketed, quickly covered topics of our high school US History classes. 

Where we may feel like Weiss had merely skimmed the surface of non-white voices, offering an initial starting point to their stories, The Complex History of Women's Suffrage Movement actually highlights a few of those interesting figures (and new ones!) with some awesome visual references and also provides helpful links to learn more. 

UK Suffrage

An article from The Guardian on the suffrage movement in the UK. Like the American movement, the British had a militant and a peaceful wing. However, the militants were much more violent in the UK. It's also interesting that the militants embraced the term "suffragettes" while the peaceful activists still referred to themselves as "suffragists." The author makes an important point that this piece of history is often sanitised, if not completely overlooked.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/feb/06/1910s-suffragettes-suffragists-fern-riddell

The U.S. women’s national soccer team recently sued the U.S. Soccer Federation for gender discrimination (click here for the article). This is the first time a gender discrimination lawsuit has been filed in professional sports. However, other reports have historically been submitted. What's interesting now is the strategy and timing of the filing, as the team won their 4th World Cup earlier this year, there have been a host of other filed claims, the media is covering the issue more-so, and the following key tactics are being utilized: aligning the entire team (previously individual players have made claims, but now the entire team is coming together), using data to show the quantitative dynamics of gender discrimination, three leaders (Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd, and Alex Morgan) are unifying the movement, and partnerships are forming (even with the men's soccer team). Mirroring Elaine Weiss' comments and our class discussions regarding the political nature of social change or progress (specifically how strategic it needs to be), this example attests to the ways in which reform is driven. 

Grab a Beer With Elizabeth Warren

I came across an advertisement (on Instagram, of all places) a few weeks ago for Elizabeth Warren's presidential campaign. She was offering supporters the opportunity to "have a beer with her".

It's often a measure of likability, whether voters think a candidate would be fun to grab a drink with. At first, this seemed like an interesting way to approach the double bind, by acknowledging it head-on.

This article touches on this part of Warren's campaign, as well as yet another double standard she is held to when speaking in her local vernacular. It addresses her lack of likability, and her seemingly 'inauthentic' personality.

Women's History in Public School Curriculum

In 2017, the National Women’s History Museum published a report called “Where are the Women?”, in which they analyzed K-12 educational standards in social studies curriculums across the 50 states. (https://www.womenshistory.org/sites/default/files/museum-assets/document/2018-01/NWHM_Status-of-Women-in-State-Social-Studies-Standards.pdf)

The report found that out of 737 historical figures mentioned in the standards, only 178 are women. This means that for every one woman mentioned by name in the classroom, three men are mentioned. If women’s history is not taught in public schools, most young students grow up without exposure to a female perspective of American history and politics. The result is that girls and young women are deprived of a road map providing them a path toward leadership, further contributing to the underrepresentation of women in government. 

Tennessee Women's Suffrage Memorials

Sue Shelton White lived in my hometown, Jackson, Tennessee. After reading the Woman's Hour I looked up any sites I could visit the next time that I am home. A monument to White went up in 2017 outside our city hall. I had no idea! There is also a TN Woman Suffrage Heritage Trail that I did not know about. In middle school, everyone is required to take Tennessee state history, and I do not remember ever talking about women's suffrage. 

Women's suffrage around the world

If you're wondering about the international movement for women's suffrage, take a look at this timeline. It's intriguing to see when women gained the vote in various countries.

Women's suffrage in popular culture

I'm curious about the ways that the women's suffrage movement has been depicted in popular culture, as these images shape popular memory.  Here are two examples.  If you think of others, please add them here!

The "Sister Suffragette" song from the 1964 Walt Disney classic, Mary Poppins:

And this parody of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance":

Elizabeth Warren Fires Back at Doubts About Her Age And Gender

From NowThis News:
‘Maybe it takes a woman of a certain age to say, I know how to fight, I know how to win.’ — Sen. Elizabeth Warren has strong words for people who doubt a woman can be president.

The Gillibrand Test Case for Women in Politics

From the New York Times:
Here’s what we learned about a feminist message in a six-woman field.

Juanita Abernathy, a Force in the Civil Rights Movement, Dies at 88

The wife of the Rev. Dr. Ralph Abernathy, she was an activist in her own right in the struggle to end segregation and to secure the vote. Read her obituary here.