This past weekend, I made a trip to New York City to see Suffs, a fantastic musical about the bold women who got us the right to vote. Produced by Hillary Clinton and Malala Yousafzai, Suffs tells the story of Alice Paul and her female compatriots who took on just about every form of resistance you can imagine - and still wouldn’t back down. Watching it was a serious reminder of how far women have come, thanks to a few indomitable females who literally risked it all.
Picture this: It’s 1917, and women are organizing protests outside the White House. Alice Paul and company are there, not just risking bad weather and ripped petticoats, but risking actual prison time. When they got thrown in jail for standing up for women’s voting rights, they didn’t stop - they doubled down, enduring mistreatment and even force-feeding during hunger strikes.
And it wasn’t just about voting; back then, women’s rights were… well, let’s just say they were pretty much nonexistent. Getting married was like hitting delete on your personal autonomy. You couldn’t legally control your own money, own land, or—wait for it—even get a credit card until the 1970s. So, when Alice Paul and the suffragists won the fight for voting rights in 1920, it set off a chain reaction. Voting allowed women to advocate for changes that expanded our financial independence and ultimately our wealth-building opportunities. Today, voting is a tool that keeps that momentum going.
So yes, voting actually does matter. Voting isn’t just filling in some circles or checking a box—it’s a way of saying, “Hey, thanks, Alice Paul! I appreciate that prison stay, and I’m not letting it go to waste.” Every time we cast a ballot, we’re using a tool that these women fought tooth and nail to win for us. So, on November 5th, let’s remember the fierce determination of Alice Paul and the suffragists who made this all possible by showing up at the polls. Voting is more than just a civic duty; it’s a way to protect the progress women have fought so hard for.
As someone invested in owning your financial future, you’re here because you understand the power of choice and action. Without the women who fought for suffrage, our ability to shape our lives and futures would be vastly different. Heading to the polls is not just our right but a powerful step in safeguarding our financial independence and honoring those who paved the way.
And a fun side note – while my husband Brian was using the urinal in the Men’s Room, he heard a commotion outside and suddenly a group of women come busting through the bathroom door chanting “We Can’t Wait!” and occupying the stalls (the Women’s Room had a HUGE line). He was completely supportive, and it was great to see women being inspired to own their power in the world. 👸 💪
Suffragist Inez Milholland, who collapsed and died in 1916 while on a speaking tour supporting women's suffrage
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