The right to vote

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1946, this "no" vote poster wonders, Mummy, when are you coming home? (Graphische Sammlung, Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek/NB)

1946, but its "yes" counterpart says that a free people need the female vote (Graphische Sammlung, Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek/NB) (Graphische Sammlung, Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek/NB)

1920, for many opponents, giving women the right to vote "threatened" their duties (Graphische Sammlung, Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek/NB) (Graphische Sammlung, Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek/NB)

1941, but those in favour sought to show that it was a question of women and men voting together (Graphische Sammlung, Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek/NB) (Graphische Sammlung, Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek/NB)

1946, the "no" camp was not above using emotive images (Graphische Sammlung, Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek/NB) (Graphische Sammlung, Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek/NB)

1928, but images of the family were also used to argue in favour of the female vote (Graphische Sammlung, Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek/NB) (Graphische Sammlung, Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek/NB)

1968, "leave us out of it" intones this poster (Graphische Sammlung, Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek/NB) (Graphische Sammlung, Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek/NB)

1953, this poster campaigns for women to be able to take part in decision-making (Graphische Sammlung, Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek/NB) (Graphische Sammlung, Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek/NB)

1940, some thought that women would "fall prey" to political parties (Graphische Sammlung, Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek/NB) (Graphische Sammlung, Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek/NB)

1959, this "yes" poster failed to convince voters. (Graphische Sammlung, Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek/NB) (Graphische Sammlung, Schweizerische Nationalbibliothek/NB)

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Campaigning for and against women's suffrage in Switzerland.

Women finally gained the vote in Switzerland in 1971, after a long campaign. Before that male voters had always rejected the move. Old posters show how the subject was often an emotional one.