Until the early 20th century, voting in almost all countries was an exclusive right of men - especially rich men. Amid a scenario of great transformation, activists who mobilized for women's right to political participation became known as suffragists.
Between 1890 and 1994, women from most countries acquired the right to vote and to stand for public office. Still, time and space are two variables that differ greatly when it comes to this achievement: what in 1906 was a great victory for the Finns happened in South Africa only in 1993 and Saudi Arabia in 2011.
The 19th and early 20th century feminist movements sought to transform the condition of women in society through the struggle for participation in the electoral scene. In fact, this is one of the first agendas of women's movements capable of spreading throughout the industrialized or industrializing world.
In Europe, the struggle of the suffragists mingled with the struggle of the labor movement against the exploitation of workers, working in the leftist, socialist and communist parties. New Zealand in 1893 and Finland in 1906 were the first countries to recognize women's right to vote.
In Britain, the women's movement won the right to vote after World War I. The example of British women spread across Europe. In some countries, such as Sweden and Norway, the number of voters has exceeded that of voters.
