Today is a crucial anniversary in the history of feminism: 99 years ago, on August 26, 1920was approved in the United States the XNUMXth amendment to the US Constitution, which introduced universal suffrage. It was the triumph of thesuffragettes”, the movement for women's emancipation born precisely with the aim of guaranteeing also women the right to vote.
The suffragettes first came together as a national movement in 1869, but not in the US, but in Britain. Here the battle was won in two stages: the first in 1918, when the British Parliament gave the green light to the right to vote limited to the wives of heads of household with certain age requirements (over 30); the second 10 years later, on 2 July 1928, when suffrage was extended to all women in the United Kingdom.
As for the Use, the first state to partially recognize women's suffrage was the Wyoming, in 1869. In the same year, movements similar to those in England arose in the United States.
The suffragettes used to spread their ideas through rallies, writing on the walls or signs with slogans such as "Votes for women" or containing phrases praising the leaders of the movement. Often these demonstrations were violently crushed by the police and the militants were arrested.
However, their struggle was destined for success, which arrived on July 26, 1920. Article XIX of the American Constitution which 99 years ago finally extended suffrage to women reads as follows: "The right to vote of the citizens of the United States cannot be denied or disowned by the United States or any state on the grounds of sex".
A 2015 film is dedicated to the British origins of the movement, entitled "suffragette”, directed by Sarah Gavron and starring, among others, Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter and Meryl Streep.
