The long road to women’s suffrage in Switzerland

‘Without women’s suffrage, Switzerland is not a democracy’.

Frauen mit Riesenschnecke in der Mitte — Women protesting the lack of suffrage with a giant snail representing the delay in granting them the vote (1928). Schweizerisches Sozialarchiv

Demonstrationsumzug — May Day procession: Marching with banners proclaiming "Women's suffrage: We keep fighting!" Zurich, 1948. Schweizerisches Sozialarchiv

Demonstration — Parade of postal workers in Zurich, May 1, 1956: the banner denounces Switzerland and Portugal as being the European laggards on women’s suffrage. Ernst Köehli / Schweizerisches Sozialarchiv

Fackelumzug — Torche-led parade calling for the right to vote, Zurich, 1963. Heinz Baumann / Eth-Bibliothek Zürich

Assembly gathering of the Swiss association for women's voting rights, 1963. — Assembly gathering of the Swiss association for women's voting rights, 1963. RDB

Women campaigning for women's suffrage at the 1964 Expo. — Women campaigning for women's suffrage at the 1964 Expo. RDB

“The right to vote is a human right”: banner on a rooftop in Zurich, 1966. — “The right to vote is a human right”: banner on a rooftop in Zurich, 1966. Keystone

Japanese tourists take in the "No" slogan on a poster for the referendum on women's suffrage in Zurich in 1966. — Japanese tourists take in the "No" slogan on a poster for the referendum on women's suffrage in Zurich in 1966. Keystone

A statue of symbolic Swiss figure Helvetia in Basel, holding a sign reading “I’m not allowed to vote!”, 1966. — A statue of symbolic Swiss figure Helvetia in Basel, holding a sign reading “I’m not allowed to vote!”, 1966. Keystone

In 1968, a woman not yet entitled to vote waits outside a polling station in the city of Zurich for her husband to cast his ballot on women's suffrage. — In 1968, a woman not yet entitled to vote waits outside a polling station in the city of Zurich for her husband to cast his ballot on women's suffrage. Keystone

Demonstration mit Transparenten — At a 1969 demonstration, banners include “opponents of women’s right to vote don’t belong in parliament”. Schweizerisches Sozialarchiv

four women in front of microphones — Swiss women calling for voting rights in 1969 RDB

Marching in Bern for female suffrage, 1969. — Marching in Bern for female suffrage, 1969. RDB

A march to the capital Bern to whistle in front of the parliament in 1969. — A march to the capital Bern to whistle in front of the parliament in 1969. Keystone / Joe Widmer

“Human rights” demanded at the march in Bern, 1969. — “Human rights” demanded at the march in Bern, 1969. Photopress Archiv

Promoting universal suffrage on the Limmatplatz in Zurich, 1969. — Promoting universal suffrage on the Limmatplatz in Zurich, 1969. RDB

The Swiss parliament in 1969: “as along as women can’t vote, Switzerland is not a democracy”. — The Swiss parliament in 1969: “as along as women can’t vote, Switzerland is not a democracy”. Keystone

Women voting for the first time at the city level in Zurich, 1969. They will have to wait to do the same at cantonal and national level. — Women voting for the first time at the city level in Zurich, 1969. They will have to wait to do the same at cantonal and national level. RDB

A polling station in western Switzerland, where women were only allowed to vote on municipal matters (1970). — A polling station in western Switzerland, where women were only allowed to vote on municipal matters (1970). Keystone

Shortly before the federal vote on the introduction of women's suffrage in 1971, an opponent of the bill distributes leaflets to passers-by in Zurich. — Shortly before the federal vote on the introduction of women's suffrage in 1971, an opponent of the bill distributes leaflets to passers-by in Zurich. Keystone

Pro-women's suffrage posters before the decisive vote in 1971. — Pro-women's suffrage posters before the decisive vote in 1971. RDB

Switzerland gave women the vote in 1971 – one of the last countries in Europe to do so.

This content was published on February 2, 2021 - 09:00

More from this author

Deutsch

“Ohne Frauenstimmrecht ist die Schweiz keine Demokratie” Original
Français

«Sans droit de vote des femmes, la Suisse n’est pas une démocratie»
Español

“Sin el sufragio femenino, Suiza no es una democracia”
Português

“Sem o direito de voto para as mulheres, a Suíça não seria uma democracia”
日本語

「私たちは闘い続ける！」　女性参政権獲得まで
العربية

“بدون حق التصويت للمرأة، سويسرا ليست دولة ديمقراطية”
中文

“不赋予女性投票权，瑞士就不算民主国家”
Русский

Без избирательного права для женщин демократии в Швейцарии нет

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