It took nearly 100 years of persistent leadership to pass the 19th amendment, allowing white female citizens their right to vote. But the story doesn't end there. Discover four Asian women pioneers in early histories that also demanded their right to vote in the U.S., U.K., and beyond.
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1901
Clemencia Lopez
Born & Bred
Balayan, Philippines
Turning Point
Traveling to the U.S. as an activist for Philippine independence
Went down in history for
The first Filipina to step foot in the White House
1901 - left the Philippines for the U.S. to speak for Philippine independence after her three brothers were imprisoned by American military unjustly
1902 - Enrolled in Wellesley College to learn English
Testified in Washington D.C. before the U.S. Senate and met with President Theodore Roosevelt
Gave her famous speech to the New England Woman's Suffrage Association equality of women in the Philippines is not a new thing...you ought to understand that we are only contending for the liberty of our country, just as you once fought for the same liberty for yours."
1905 - After returning to the Philippines, she co-founded the Philippine Feminist Association
A Fighter's Timeline
1901
Left the Philippines for the U.S. to speak for Philippine independence after her three brothers were imprisoned by American military unjustly
1902
Enrolled in Wellesley College to learn English
Testified in Washington D.C. before the U.S. Senate Investigating Committee of the Philippines and met with President Theodore Roosevelt.
Gave her famous speech to the New England Woman's Suffrage Association "equality of women in the Philippines is not a new thing...we are contending for the liberty of our country, just as you once fought for the same liberty."
1905
After returning to the Philippines, she co-founded the Philippine Feminist Association
1909
Sophia Singh (Right) w/ Sisters
Born & Bred
Suffolk, England
Turning Point
Visit to India
Went down in history for
Sikh British Suffragist
1876
Daughter of the last Indian Prince of the Sikh Empire. Forced to give up his rich kingdom & the celebrated Koh-i-Noor diamond. Sophia grew up in England with Queen Victoria as her godmother
1903
Shocked by the deprivation and the brutality of life under British rule during a trip to India
Returning as a revolutionary, she grappling with police at protests, throwing herself at the prime minister's car and selling suffragette newspapers outside Hampton Court Palace
1911-1913
Her refusal to pay tax led to her prosecution several times: "When the state acknowledges me as a citizen I shall, of course, pay my share willingly towards its upkeep."
2015
She was punished for standing up to the British establishment, and as a result, more or less deleted from history
- Author Anita Anand
Daughter of the last Indian Prince of the Sikh Empire. Forced to give up his rich kingdom & the celebrated Koh-i-Noor diamond. Sophia grew up in England with Queen Victoria as her godmother
1903 - Shocked by the deprivation and the brutality of life under British rule during a trip to India
Returning as a revolutionary, she grappling with police at protests, throwing herself at the prime minister's car and selling suffragette newspapers outside Hampton Court Palace
A Fighter's Timeline
1911-1913 - Her refusal to pay tax led to her prosecution several times: "When the state acknowledges me as a citizen I shall, of course, pay my share willingly towards its upkeep."
Punished for standing up to the British establishment, and as a result, more or less deleted from history - Author Anita Anand
1912
Tye Leung Schulze
Born & Bred
San Francisco, California
Turning Point
Ran away from home
Went down in history for
First Chinese American woman to cast a ballot in a U.S. Election
1899 - At age 12, refused an arranged marriage
1899 - Became a translator for Presbyterian missionary rescuing 3,000 women and girls from sex trafficking in SF’s Chinatown
1905 - California anti-miscegenation laws (people of color marrying white citizens) expanded to include American-born Asians
1913 - Fell in love and married Charles Schulze anyways
1913 - The married couple forced to resign their government jobs at Angel Island Immigration Center
A Fighter's Timeline
1899
At age 12, refused arrange marriage
1899
Became a translator for Presbyterian missionary rescuing 3,000 women and girls from sex trafficking in SF’s Chinatown
1905
California anti-miscegenation laws expanded to include American-born Asians
1913
Fell in love and married Charles Schulze anyways
1913
Married couple forced resignation as Angel Island federal employees
1912
Dr. Mabel Lee
Born & Bred
Guangzhou, China & New York, NY
Turning Point
Won the Boxer Indemnity Scholarship that allowed her to relocate to the U.S to attend school
Went down in history for
Lead 10,000 people in the New York City suffrage parade at 16
1905 - Moved from Guangdong to New York City
1912 - Led a suffrage parade of 10,000+ people at 16 years old
1916 - Spoke at the Women's Political Union's Suffrage Shop entitled "The Submerged Half", encouraging the civic participation and education of Chinese women
1921 - Graduated with a PhD in economics from Columbia University--the first Chinese woman in the US to do so
1925 - Founded the First Chinese Baptist Church, which provided English classes, medical care, and a kindergarten for the community
A Fighter's Timeline
1905
Moved from Guangdong to New York City
1912
Led a suffrage parade of 10,000+ people at 16 years old
1916
Spoke at the Women's Political Union's Suffrage Shop entitled "The Submerged Half", encouraging the civic participation and education of Chinese women
1921
Graduated with a PhD in economics from Columbia University--the first Chinese woman in the US to do so
1925
Founded the First Chinese Baptist Church, which provided English classes, medical care, and a kindergarten for the community
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