At the turn of the century, New Zealand elected its first ever government. Richard John Seddon served as the leader of the Liberal Party from 1893-1906. Prior to 1893, only men were legally allowed to vote. This all changed in the late 1800s when a woman named Kate Sheppard lead a suffragist movement in New Zealand calling for a change in law. Her hard work finally paid off when the Electoral Act was passed into law on 19 September 1893, giving women the right to vote. New Zealand was the first country to give all women the right to vote. There were still countries in the world (e.g. Saudi Arabia) who, until recently, did not allow women to vote.
On your blog tell us what you think about the fact that women were not allowed to vote in Saudi Arabia until 2015. Is it fair? Why or why not?
I think that the right for only men to vote is totally unfair. Why should men only have the right to vote? Why do they get to have more power then women? God made man and women the same. Women deserve the right to vote. They have a right to choose. They have every right in them to speak up. I think that this is wrong to not let women vote. I think that this is not just and that it should be stopped.
Hi Annalisa,
ReplyDeleteI like your passionate response to this topic! You are right that it is unfair, unfortunately in some places women and men aren’t considered equal.. Did you know that recently in Iceland it became illegal to pay men more than women? I think that’s an awesome step for equality in one way! If you were the prime minister, what would you do to encourage equality between all people?
I think it’s sad that it took this long for Saudi Arabian women to be able to vote. I am thankful to be a part of nation that enforced women’s rights to vote almost 125 years ago! Do you know the woman who led the movement that helped it become possible?
Toe feiloa’i fo’i,
Cia.