Research and poster installation (2018)

Many early efforts of women fighting for rights, access to education, trades, professions, and political decision making outside the U.S.-European axis are generally lesser known than similar events that took place in the U.S. or Europe. In 2018, the Secretariat for Ghosts, Archival Politics and Gaps developed two posters to coincide with the 100-year anniversary of women’s right to vote in Austria: one on the First Feminist Congress in 1916 in Yucatán (Mexico), the other on the International Women’s Suffrage Conference (IWSC) in 1913 in Vienna (Austria). The poster installation brings together archival materials from both events and shares their different efforts:

In Vienna, the conference’s organizers called for a demonstration, which was attended by more than 120 cars and carriages that carried yellow flags with the word FRAUENSTIMMRECHT—“WOMEN’S RIGHT TO VOTE”. In 1918 women gained the right to vote in Austria.

In Yucatan, at the end of the congress, the delegates submitted a proposal to modify the Yucatan Constitution to allow women’s suffrage. The proposal was not implemented. In 1953 women gained the right to vote in Mexico.

Translation of the text in German on the poster:

The International Women’s Suffrage Conference took place in Vienna, from June 11 to 12, 1912. On June 12, the conference’s organizers called for a demonstration, which was attended by more than 120 cars and carriages that carried yellow flags with the word FRAUENSTIMMRECHT, “WOMEN’S RIGHT TO VOTE” in English.

In 1918 women got the right to vote in Austria.

People who do not have Austrian citizenship but live in Austria and have a residence and/or work permit are excluded from voting. They are allowed to be politically active.

Translation of the text in German on the poster:

The First Feminist Congress in Yucatán took place at the Peon Contreras Theatre in Mérida, Yucatán (Mexico), from January 13 to 16, 1916. The organizers posed following questions

1. – What social means should be employed to release women from the yoke of tradition?
2. – What is the role of the Primary School in the revindication of women, since the aim of the school is to prepare one for life?
3. – What arts and occupation sought the State to promote and maintain whose aim is to prepare women for the dynamic life of progress?
4. – What public functions can and should women undertake, so as to be not exclusively a guided element but also a guiding one in society?
   (Excerpt from the Call of Participation in the First Feminist Congress in Yucatán, General Archive of the State of Yucatan)

At the end of the congress, the delegates submitted a proposal to modify the Yucatán Constitution to allow women’s suffrage. The proposal was not implemented.

In 1953 women got the right to vote in Mexico.

People who do not have Mexican citizenship but live in Mexico and have a residence and/or work permit are excluded from voting and are not allowed to participate in political activities.

Photo: Fototeca Pedro Guerra, Autonomous University of Yucatán

Archival materials: Fototeca Pedro Guerra, Autonomous University of Yucatán; General Archive of the State of Yucatan, VBKÖ Archive

GELBE FAHNEN (1913) & CONGRESO FEMINISTA (1916) was part of the exhibition #150 100 Jahre Frauenwahlrecht I 50 Jahre 68 Bewegung (curated by contemporary collective graz), kunsthalle graz (A) in 2018.