Distant Sisters: Australasian Women and the International Struggle for the Vote, 1880-1914

In the 1890s, Australian and New Zealand women became the first in the world to win the vote, leading to a global struggle for women's electoral rights. "Distant Sisters" explores the personal and material networks that transformed feminist organizing, arguing that developments in Auckland, Sydney, and Adelaide cannot be separated from their glamourous metropoles. It focuses on Antipodean women, insiders and outsiders in the emerging international womens movement, and documents the failures of their expansive vision alongside its successes, revealing a more contingent history of international organizing.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 14 February 2023
Publisher: Manchester University Press

In the vibrant decade of the 1890s, a remarkable milestone was achieved by Australian and New Zealand women, as they became the first in the world to secure the right to vote. Their triumphs ignited a fire of determination within them, fueling a passionate commitment to champion a global crusade for the expansion of women's electoral rights. Drawing upon the shared trajectory of colonial suffrage campaigns, Distant Sisters unveils the intricate web of personal and material connections that shaped the evolution of feminist organizing. By examining the interplay between intimate relationships and institutional frameworks, the book sheds light on the influential elites and ordinary women who together forged a transformative movement. It argues that developments in Auckland, Sydney, and Adelaide, once considered the peripheries of the feminist world, cannot be divorced from their glamorous metropoles. With a keen focus on Antipodean women, who straddled the roles of insiders and outsiders in the emerging international women's movement, the book meticulously documents both the triumphs and failures of their expansive vision. It reveals a more nuanced and contingent history of international organizing, challenging celebratory accounts of fin-de-siècle global connections.

Distant Sisters is a groundbreaking work that resonates deeply with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5, Gender equality. It serves as a testament to the unwavering courage and resilience of women who have fought tirelessly for equal rights. Through its meticulous exploration of the past, the book offers valuable insights into the ongoing struggle for gender equality and provides a roadmap for building a more inclusive and equitable world. As we continue to navigate the complex terrain of social and political change, Distant Sisters serves as a reminder of the power of collective action and the importance of recognizing the diverse voices and experiences that shape our collective journey toward a more just and equal future.

Weight: 332g
Dimension: 215 x 140 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526167118