Abigail Scott Duniway (1834–1915) dedicated her life to advocating for women’s rights, particularly suffrage, across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Her relentless efforts leading regional campaigns earned her recognition as the primary architect of women’s suffrage in the Pacific Northwest. Her story illustrates unwavering determination against entrenched legal restrictions and social hostility. Early Life & Background […]
What Is the Equal Rights Amendment? The Century-Long Battle to Write Women into the Constitution
The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a proposed constitutional amendment designed to explicitly guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. While modern readers might view terms like “persons” or “citizens” in the original Constitution as gender-neutral, lawmakers and courts historically understood them as applying almost exclusively to men, leaving women without […]
9 Women Environmentalists in History: Pioneers of Conservation and Climate Science
For centuries, women have stood at the forefront of protecting the natural world, uncovering fundamental scientific truths, and leading movements to preserve ecosystems across the globe. Yet, throughout history, women in science and environmental advocacy faced formidable systemic barriers. Excluded from male-dominated scientific institutions, denied formal recognition, and often dismissed by commercial interests, these trailblazers […]
Julia Ward Howe: Abolitionist, Social Activist, Poet
In November 1861, while she was staying at Willard’s Hotel in embattled Washington, DC, Julia Ward Howe wrote the lyrics to the most famous patriotic anthem of the Civil War. “It would be impossible for me to say,” she wrote in her Reminiscences (1899), “how many times I have been called upon to rehearse the […]
The Japanese Women’s Suffrage Movement (Real Facts)
As Japan’s contact with the Western world increased beginning in the 1850s, the new Meiji era government worried about Japan’s image in the eyes of Westerners. It began regulating the behavior of citizens in an effort to appear more modern and civilized in the eyes of Westerners, and be seen as an equal nation. As […]
Suffragist vs Suffragette: What’s the Difference?
Suffragist vs Suffragette: one was known for peaceful protests and one was known for setting fires and bombing buildings. Find out which is which!
Women’s Suffrage and Prohibition: Strange Allies
Did you know that women’s suffrage and the temperance movement were both considered radical causes? Here’s how and why suffragists worked for prohibition.
The Doctrine of Separate Spheres: Why a Woman’s Place Was In the Home
Why are there more men in politics, and why do women STILL do most of the housework? It’s because we’re still influenced by the doctrine of separate spheres.
The Seneca Falls Convention: The Spark That Ignited the Suffrage Movement
What happened at the Seneca Falls Convention, and what was its significance? Find out the leaders who organized it and and read the summary.