History of female suffrage after World War I
First World War
In 1914, the First World War occur, this fact was a fundamental cause in the course for the emancipation of the female gender, since, they needed the labor of women, due to the lack of men because of the war.
At the end of World War I, women had progressed in the clear awareness of their importance within society, especially in the winning countries, since, they had contributed to victory.
Feminist lifting in the world
In 1903, Emmeline Pankhurst founded in London the "social union and women’s policies" formed by a group of feminist, who were pioneers in various demonstrations with quite media repercussions for the time.
Strikes and manifestations worldwide:
In 1923, after the Russian revolution, many countries decide to imitate this example and stop their functions with the purpose of achieving equal rights between social classes, domestic employees joined these strikes achieving greater organization and support by male unions.
University studies for women in Chile
In 1877, women access to university studies are granted thanks to a decree signed by the Minister of Education of that time, this fact gives more knowledge to women and awakens aspirations to achieve more important positions withinsociety, as public or political positions;in those who could also modify laws that grant greater prominence to the female gender within the country.
However, as at that time only well -off families could access higher education, women belonging to the average and low social classes, speculated that this struggle would only benefit the highest estate in the country.
After this, multiple generations of professional women emerged, who reinforced the lifting of female suffrage.
In 1935, the MEMCH organization (Emancipation Movement of Chilean women) was created, created to incorporate all women of different social, ideological classes, etc. to join and prosper towards equal conditions against Chilean law.
Opposition to female vote
In Chile, the women’s struggle to obtain the right to vote was delayed for several decades due to the opposition of anticlerical and left parties, who saw in them a threat to their conservative tendency.
In 1934, women get their first victory, where the female vote for municipal elections is approved. This right was exercised for the first time in 1935, when 98 women presented themselves as candidates for mayor of the country.
From that moment, the feminist movement continued to grow and increased the desire of other women for joining democratic life.
- Law No. 9.292:
In 1941, lawyers Elena Caffarena and Flor Heredia presented a project to the president of that time;Pedro Aguirre Cerda, one of the supporters of women’s struggle for their political rights. However, the president’s death postponed the debate for several years.
Only in 1946, campaigns to achieve female suffrage intensified and began to educate society the advantages of obtaining this right. However, at that time Gabriel González Videla, a conservative president, known for his anti -communist position and his opposition to the MEMCH.
- The right to female vote:
In 1949, and despite the opposition of some political groups, feminists continued their fight until on January 8, 1949, the right to participate in the presidential and parliamentary elections. This important fact is considered a historical milestone for the country at that time being held in a public act at the Municipal Theater of Santiago, where Law No. 9 was signed.292, which consecrated the political rights of women.
In 1952, women finally elected a president in the presidential election, where Carlos Ibáñez del Campo was elected.
Since then, female participation was extended progressively until they reached parity with male voters in 1970.
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