Votes for Women: The Fierce Fight for Women's Suffrage and Equality

The roots of the women’s suffrage movement in the U.S. can be traced back to the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848, where leaders like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott first called for women's right to vote in the Declaration of Sentiments. This gathering marked the beginning of organized efforts for women’s rights in the U.S. The suffragists organized marches and demonstrations, such as the 1913 Women’s Suffrage Procession in Washington, D.C., which brought national attention to the cause.

"Votes for Women" became the shorthand for the broader struggle for gender equality, representing not only the demand for political participation but also the fight for societal rights and recognition of women as full citizens. The slogan appeared on banners, posters, buttons, and other paraphernalia used in marches, rallies, and protests. It was both a literal demand and a symbol of the broader fight for women's rights.

The "Votes for Women" pennant, for which our jewelry was inspired, is from an artifact on display at the New York Historical Society Museum and Library. This pennant was used as part of the campaign to secure voting rights for women and serves as a powerful reminder of the activism and determination of the suffragists.

The suffrage movement culminated in the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920, which legally granted women the right to vote. This victory was achieved after decades of activism, lobbying, and public campaigns.