Date and time: 3 Nov 2026 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm GMT
Location: Hybrid | Online-via Zoom & In person:
Institute of Historical Research, Wolfson Room NB02, Basement, IHR, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU
Event type: Seminar
Event series: Parliaments, Politics and People
Speakers: Paula Bartley (University of Warwick)
Contact: ihr.events@sas.ac.uk
ABSTRACT: ‘In 1901 politics was a man’s world: men stood for election; men framed the laws. Life across the world was generally hierarchical. Unless they were of royal blood, there were no women – not one – in any government, in any country, in any part of the globe. Throughout Europe, Kings, Sultans, Grand Dukes, Princes, and a Tsar ruled their countries. Just by virtue of their birth. There were no women in elected governments elsewhere either. Not in Canada, in the United States, in Nigeria, in India, in South America, in Australia, in Japan. I could go on – the list would include every single country in the world.
Into this seemingly calm and ordered life burst a political firestorm. Finnish women sparked a flame that would ignite across the globe. In 1907, 19 women were elected to the Eduskunta, the Finnish parliament. This was a momentous occasion, beginning what I call the century of democracy. More and more countries followed Finland to adopt systems of government that gave all their female citizens the right to vote and stand for parliament. By 2000, over 95% of countries had elected or appointed women to their representative body.
Why did this happen? As we know, the twentieth century was marked by revolutions in Europe, two world wars, the Cold War, the decolonisation of Africa and Asia, the increasing power of America and the formation and collapse of the United Soviet Socialist Republic. All this reshaped global politics. Women all over the world, at different times, in different countries, in different circumstances took advantage of the power vacuums created by these upheavals. My talk will explore these themes and share stories of some of the remarkable women who were the first to enter their respective governments.’
All welcome – this seminar is free to attend, but advance booking is required
https://www.sas.ac.uk/news-events/events/trailblazers-first-women-elected-government