Women's History Month 2020: Not Everyone Voted: Anti-Suffrage Women

Library of Congress

Woman suffrage must ultimately fail. It is based upon a fallacy, and no fallacy has ever made a permanent conquest over mankind. --Alice N George*

Women should have the right to vote! Well not everyone in the 19th and 20th centuries believed so. It might not surprise you to know that many men, not all,  didn't agree with female suffrage. It also shouldn't surprise you that there were a number of women who didn't want the right to vote. 

Yes, in some cases those who don't have a right don't want that right.  

Anti-suffrage groups were led by women and included women in their membership. Why did they not want the vote? We could do a semester length course on this topic with  all of the historical and philosophical reasons why but some general reasons include:

• The belief that women had a "place" and that place was only in the home
• Women should stay out of politics
• Women's votes could "cancel out" or double their husband's votes
• Men conduct business and make decisions on behalf of both men and women
• Most women don't want the vote
• Suffragists are radicals that don't speak for women
• Suffrage states didn't protect women in the same ways as states without women's suffrage

Really there are many more reasons. But suffice it to say, not everyone wanted the right to vote. Those who didn't, formed anti-suffrage groups, held meetings, debated, wrote pamphlets and  books such as this one by Massachusetts women. The introduction is by a male Harvard professor and the book is dedicated to men.

Gratefully Dedicated to the 295, 939 Massachusetts Men Who, on Election Day, 1915 Endorsed the Anti-Suffrage Sentiments of the Women of Massachusetts**


 


So what does this mean for genealogists? Anti-suffrage beliefs could explain a female ancestors absence from voting records (but it's not the only reason as we will explore this week). It could also mean that you should look at manuscript collections for local anti-suffrage organizations. Don't forget to also look at her church's stance on suffrage, which also may shed light on her suffrage beliefs.

Resources

ArchiveGrid - search on Anti-Suffrage
Atlas Obscura - Why Women Led Anti-Suffrage Campaigns Against Themselves
National Women's History Museum - National Association Opposed to Women's Suffrage






*Alice N George, "Suffrage Falicies" in Anti-Suffrage Essays by Massachusetts Women

**Gena's snarky comment...yes, indeed...thanks men...how kind of you