Question

What are some of the common myths and misconceptions about the women’s suffrage movement that are being excavated in these exhibits? Why is it important to correct them?

Answer 1

Answer:

Some of the common myths or misconceptions about the women's suffrage movement is that it ended in 1920 and that it was largely a white middle-class movement.  In addition, women were already granted full suffrage in 15 states at the time the 19th Amendment was passed.  These states were largely in the Western United States.  

Explanation:

August 2019 marked the 100th year anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, the amendment that gave American women the right to vote. In commemoration, there have been some innovative exhibits at the National Portrait Gallery, the Library of Congress, and the National Archives in Washington DC. There is more to the movement than just the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848 and the leadership from Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.  It is usually portrayed as a white middle class movement but figures like Marie Louise Bottineau Baldwin and Ida B. Wells also played an important role. Also the fight for women's rights was much more piecemeal because poll taxes and other barriers were still in place in many states that barred poor citizens from voting for example.  It is important to correct these myths to show the heterogeneity of the movement and the diversity of struggles that women underwent.