The tool that empowered generations of women to unite.
"1908::Women's Suffragists Advertise Meetings On Fences With Chalk"
Photo Clip: Saturday Sunet (1908)
Vancouver, British Columbia
In the mid-1800s, a powerful movement advocating and supporting women's right to vote garnered worldwide attention. This movement, known as women's suffrage, faced opposition and support from both men and women and encountered its most significant challenges in the United States and Great Britain. Loud-voiced opposers often crashed their meetings, and promotional posters were frequently torn down and ripped up. But the suffragists refused to be silenced. They armed themselves with chalk, making it a little more challenging for those who wished to sabotage their efforts. Suffragists wrote notes to each other everywhere. Sidewalks, fences, and even buildings were chalk-marked with meeting schedules and news, and soon, the movement gained momentum.
"1907::Promoting Suffragist Movement On Sidwalks With Chalk"
Photo Clip: The Daily Mirror (1907)
London, England
At the turn of the 20th century, New Zealand was the only country that had accorded women the right to vote in a national election. However, the global impact of the suffrage movement was undeniable. Other countries, such as Australia, Finland, and Norway, soon followed suit, recognizing the importance of women's voices in shaping their nations. By the end of World War One, the suffragists, who had redirected their energy to the war effort, saw their hard work finally realized when countries worldwide began granting women the right to vote.