1937 Philippine women's suffrage plebiscite

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1937 Philippine women's suffrage plebiscite

April 30, 1937 (1937-04-30)
Are you in favor of granting suffrage to women?[1]
Results
Response Votes % Yes 444,725 90.94% No 44,307 9.06% Total votes 492,032 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 572,130 86%

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The National Assembly in the Philippines announced the plebiscite in 1937, which would decide whether or not women should gain the right to vote. Multiple women's movements started during 1910 which led to the plebiscite in 1937 where women voted for or against for women's suffrage rights. Filipino women worked hard to mobilize and fight for women's suffrage in the early 1900s and gained victory after 447,725 out of 500,000 votes affirmed to having women's right to vote.^[2]

Arguments against women gaining the right to vote in the Philippines were stated due to the fact that it would ruin family unity, giving less power to the husband or man of the house in the family.^[3]

Prior to the plebiscite, electors voted on the approval of the new Philippine constitution. Approximately 1,213,934 of the electors voted in favor of the new constitution while 42,690 electors voted against. The new constitution, which contains a provision for the mechanism of extending the right to vote to women, was also the shortest constitution that was ratified during modern times. This new constitution contained only a small number of 17 articles.^[4]

Before women gained the right to vote, they had no legal rights during that time period. Even with the proper consent from their husbands, women still could not obtain any legal rights. Governor General Dwight F. Davis made it legal for women to have some legal rights when it came to disposition of property. This allowed for women to own personal items within their marriage.^[5] The issue concerning women's suffrage in the Philippines was settled in a special plebiscite held on 30 April 1937. Ninety percent of voters were in favor of the measure.

Asociacion Feminista Ilonga[]

Founded by women's rights pioneer Pura Villanueva Kalaw, Asociacion Feminista Ilonga was created in 1906 and Asociacion Feminista Filipina (Feminist Association of the Philippines) was founded in 1905 which was founded by Concepcion Felix Rodriguez along with 12 elite women.^[6] Both of these organizations not only helped the suffrage movement, but they were also one of the first organizations that built a foundation for the suffrage movement in the Philippines. The objectives of the organizations were to touch upon socio-civic matters some of which were prison reform, improving the education system and healthcare and labor reforms.^[6] Governor Murphy was the first Governor who took action on gaining civil and political rights for women, while other Governors such as Roosevelt and Davis aimed to help women gain civil rights, but never took initiative. Governor General Frank Murphy, who aimed to gain peace and unity for all Philippine women, ultimately signed the Woman's Suffrage Bill, in hope that women would gain equal rights, fairness, and treatment.^[7]

There were several feminist organizations that played a role in enhancing the suffrage movement. The struggle for women to vote in the Philippines, started by middle class women, began in 1910. In 1905, Feminista Filipino (Association of Filipino Feminists) was formed and focused on school reforms and prison reform for citizens. Another organization, the Association Feminista Ilonga, was created in 1906; its goal was to focus on women's suffrage.^{[citation needed]} At the same time, there was an all-male National Legislature that was against the feminist movement, thus did not support the movement because they feared that traditional family roles would start to change if women had the right to vote. Those who were opposed to the women's suffrage movement were not only men but also women.^[6] In 1920, the Manila Women's Club emerged as the "next big step" towards forming the League of Women's Suffragettes which worked towards women's right to vote. The Club formed the League of Women's Suffragettes. A year after the League of Women's Suffragettes was formed, there was another organization called the National Federation of Women's Club in 1921-1937 which was known to be the vanguard of the suffrage movement.^{[citation needed]} As all these organizations illustrate, Filipino women worked hard with determination to gain the right to vote and have equal political participation as Filipino men.

National Assembly[]

Article 5 of the 1935 constitution states that "The National Assembly shall extend the right of suffrage to women, if in a plebiscite which shall be held for that purpose within two years after the adoption of this Constitution, not less than three hundred thousand women possessing the necessary qualifications shall vote affirmatively on the question". In response, Filipino women amped up their mobilization women to vote. There was widespread propaganda through media, posters, press, radio, house to house visits and such and they also had lectures informing women about the plebiscite. The Junior Federation of Women's Club was also created to help women with children so that they were able to vote while their children would be taken care of. Transportation and food were provided, creating less hassle for Filipinos that may or may not have financial abilities to go out and vote.^{[citation needed]} The National Assembly passed Commonwealth Act No. 34 which was approved on 30 September 1936; the act provided for the holding of the plebiscite for women's suffrage the following year.^[1] As mandated by Commonwealth Act No. 34, women who met the same qualification as men would be qualifies to vote in the plebiscite.^[8][1] Out of the total of 500,000 women that voted in 30 April 1937, 447,725 women voted in favor of extending the right to vote to women while 52,275 voted against.^{[citation needed]} As a result of the majority of affirmative votes cast, the right of suffrage was extended to women, in compliance with section 10 of Commonwealth Act No. 34.

Legacy[]

The Philippines is one of the earliest countries in South East Asia to have a female president, Corazon Aquino, who was in office from 25 February 1986 to 30 June 1992; the country also has high percentages of women participation in the political realm.^{[citation needed]} The current 1987 Constitution grants equality for both men and women.^[9] Some of the equal political rights are the right of suffrage, the right to run for public service, right to political expression, and the right to information. The Philippines is one of the countries that is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Political Rights of Women (CEDAW).^[9] In 1939, two years after Philippine women were granted the right to vote, the first woman senator was elected: Geronima T. Pecson. The election of Pecson sparked the start of many leadership positions for women such as the election of two women presidents, a vice president, congresswomen, senators, mayors and many other leadership positions along with those.^[10]

Plebiscite results[]

Are you in favor of granting suffrage to women?

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	447,725	91.00
No	44,307	9.00
Total votes	492,032	100.00
Registered voters and turnout	572,130

See also[]

• Commission on Elections
• Politics of the Philippines
• Philippine elections
• Suffrage

References[]

External links[]

• Official website of the Commission on Elections
• Commonwealth Act No. 34