Ten Dollars and 32,000 Signatures

The arguments against women’s political rights can be summarized as follows:

1. French courts ruled that traditions and customs opposed it.

2. English courts in the 18th century argued that women lacked reason and political education.

3. English courts in the 19th century stated that public decency would not allow it.

4. The authors of the 1730 Massachusetts Constitution believed that „women lack the prudence necessary to exercise political rights, not due to a lack of intellectual capacity, but because of their innate tenderness, delicacy of soul, secluded way of life, and domestic duties.”

5. Montesquieu and Rousseau thought that women existed solely to please men.

6. Mirabeau claimed that nature itself assigned different roles to the two sexes, stating that women should reign only within the domestic hearth.

If these arguments are supposed to convince me of the correctness of the idea of women as mere keepers of the home, I vehemently refuse. In the 21st century, such arguments sound utterly illogical, although they once underpinned the organization of despotic monarchies. Despite these clear objections, today I can proudly say that I have the right to vote, that my decisions matter, and I cannot wait for spring when, for the first time, I will cast my vote – thoughtful, resolute, and immensely exciting. I know this is the result of a long history of struggle and determination by women who have fought for their rights for decades. But how did women gain the right to vote?

Long, long ago, beyond the mountains and forests – or rather, at a time when the idea of women’s suffrage was ridiculed in Europe – an event in 1878 marked the beginning of change. That year, for the first time, a motion for women’s suffrage was introduced in the New Zealand Parliament and was decisively rejected. Of course, It wasn’t that simple. However as in all colorful tales, women did not give up. They began forming associations, organizing public gatherings, and in 1888, they submitted a petition with 10,009 signatures to Parliament.

Unfortunately, that year didn’t become an easy milestone to remember. When they submitted a second petition two years later, the number of signatures had grown to 31,872. The motion to grant women political rights became a recurring issue on the parliamentary agenda, and in September 1893, it was passed by the Lower House, approved by the Upper House, and confirmed by the government.

And so, in 1893, for the first time in human history, women went to vote, creating an extraordinary paradox in the annals of time. The islands of New Zealand, the last settled islands of all the Pacific archipelagos, were the first to understand that every resident’s voice mattered. This achievement is largely thanks to Kate Sheppard (1847 – 1934), a true heroine, founder of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, and initiator of the petition to Parliament. To honor her contribution, her portrait appears on New Zealand’s ten-dollar note, along with a white camellia symbolizing support for the fight for women’s suffrage.

The petition could be expected to be a beacon of light for future generations. Every girl would have heard about it before going to bed , knowing that it gave her the chance to live long and decide her fate (in essence, to finally have a chance at freedom and happiness). However, the heroine played a trick on us by hiding the famous document deep underground. Its detailed description is preserved in New Zealand’s archives. The only information I was able to find online was that it was 270 meters long and contains the rather banal statement: “We, the undersigned women of New Zealand, request Your Highness to grant us the right to vote in elections affecting our future, our families, and future generations.”

Why can’t I tell you what’s in the remaining 269 meters and 99 centimeters?

Be that as it may, the first election in which women actively participated sparked extraordinary interest throughout the country. On the day of voting, all public institutions ceased their activities. Crowds of curious people roamed the streets, polling stations filled with women passionately advocating for their candidates. Of the 109,361 women registered on the electoral rolls, 90,290 voted. Simultaneously, there were 177,701 male voters, of whom 124,439 cast their votes. From these numbers, it is clear that women’s votes carried significant weight. They leaned towards candidates genuinely devoted to public welfare. Under pressure from women, legislative bodies were forced to pay more attention to children’s issues, actively combat alcoholism, and reform prisons.

Moreover, women were finally allowed to leave their chambers, and they didn’t want to return. Instead, they closely monitored parliamentary debates from the galleries.

Now, I suggest heading to the royal library and opening a map of the world, because, interestingly, in the 19th century, no European country granted women the right to vote. Meanwhile, in the Cook Islands, women gained voting rights in 1893, just like in New Zealand, and in Tasmania in 1902. On Pitcairn Island, women had active voting rights as early as 1838, and on Norfolk Island since 1856. Fascinating, isn’t it?

In Europe, women had little significance, but should it surprise us that they were considered merely an accessory for men, a partner for a prince in a beautiful gown? From a biological perspective, however, men serve the same purpose for women – to be attractive. Fortunately, we’ve grown accustomed to a broader perspective, one that considers emotions, thoughts, and feelings, which has helped us develop the history.

Looking back, we can observe a certain trend when comparing past customs to our present ones. The world, albeit slowly, continues to evolve, creating new ideas. Concepts change over centuries, developing and straightening. It is an unwritten truth that every point of view holds only relative value. That’s why the notion of treating women equally eventually reached Europe. Admittedly, it happened later and often faced considerable resistance, but equality was achieved.

In Poland, on November 18, 1918, Józef Piłsudski granted women voting rights, with some sources attributing significant influence to his wife, Aleksandra Piłsudska. Polish women first exercised their voting rights during the elections to the Polish Parliament on January 26, 1919.

Returning to the present, where girls no longer dream of being princesses but more often aspire to be presidents, it turns out that such dreams are genuinely possible. Discussions about whether a nation is ready for a female president are increasing. Public opinion repeatedly demonstrates that gender is irrelevant in this position. What matters are competencies and, I assume, social support.

In 2024, 16 women have held presidential positions in various countries around the world (for example, Slovakia, Ethiopia, Moldova, Hungary, India, Kosovo, and Mexico). Assuming there are 195 countries in the world, I won’t claim this is a satisfactory number. However, I believe that this is not the point. The crucial idea is that the most important factors are competence, knowledge, and skills. Do you feel that shared spark of hope with me?

Today, we are ready to become leaders, presidents, and prime ministers – to lead a world where there is no place for gender-based limitations. What once seemed impossible has already become a reality. With every decision, voice, and action, we take a step toward a world where women not only have rights but also a real impact on shaping the future.

Although there is still a long road ahead, today, standing on the shoulders of those who fought before us, we can look to the future with pride and hope – a future where equality is no longer an aspiration but an everyday reality. Together, in solidarity, we can create a better, fairer world where everyone, regardless of gender, can fulfill their dreams and contribute to the common good.

In 1893, Kate Sheppard probably never imagined she would become a symbol, her face on the ten-dollar bill, reminding women of their own history and agency. Perhaps it will be you in 2093 who will revolutionize the world. I’m rooting for you and have one request: do not let your achievements be hidden away in dusty, forgotten archives, because I guarantee there will be those who wish to tell your story.

But before your idea reshapes reality, it will begin somewhere far away – maybe beyond mountains and forests, in some unremarkable town, where a single thought will be born, capable of transforming perceptions. The challenge lies in that moment, when you must ask yourself: is this just your new idea, or does it deserve global recognition? Because sometimes, a story is truly worth remembering.