Ten Myths of Women’s Suffrage
Ten myths about women's suffrage 1) Women only had been excluded from the vote. It was not until 1856 (in France 1848) that all white men in the U.S. had suffrage (1869 for black persons). Poll taxes still existed in some states into the 20th century, excluding men of both races from the vote. 2) The exclusion of women was based on notions of female inferiority. The clergy were excluded from the House of Commons in England; did that mean they were inferior? Men without property were excluded from the vote in early America but not viewed as ontologically inferior. 3) Most women wanted the vote. According to Susan B. Anthony in 1902, in “the indifference, inertia and apathy of women lay the greatest obstacle to their enfranchisement.” She should have included “their hostility." There has never in history been any organizations of men formed to oppose their own enfranchisement, but large organizations of mostly women were opposed to the female vote. 4) The campaign for women's suffrage was only about voting. Suffragists promised a restructuring of society and were particularly hostile to indissoluble marriage. 5) The women's vote was obtained through democratic means. It could not be achieved by popular vote, as demonstrated by numerous failed referenda even in states with the women's franchise, so suffragists sought a constitutional amendment, to be ratified by state legislatures. They kept index cards of unpleasant, personal information about politicians and were accused…









