Violet
I am excited about the monument because it isn't fair that girls aren't on the National Mall.
“My idea for a monument to womens' suffrage is depicted through a long or winding staircase with a wall of statues of famous women suffragists through the 100 year journey for women's suffrage. The idea is to show that women stood on the shoulders of the women before them as we climbed uphill to receive the suffrage and worked to receive equal rights. I used AI to create the depiction of my idea. The statues are bronze and the stairs granite. The final statue (not depicted exactly in my rendering) would be of the first women voting in the first election after the 19th amendment passed.”
I took a class on the Woman's Suffrage Movement and read many primary sources about the sacrifices that were made by so many. What really stood out to me was that the work was one continuous round with each successive generation standing on the shoulders and benefitting from the efforts of the generation before. The concept of how we all climb together also comes to mind. Those who started the movement never lived to see the end and those who finally saw the day and cast their ballots could not have gotten there without the sacrifices of women they had never met. It is an incredible story of hard work, sacrifice, and sisterhood. It was far from unified and there were many ups and downs, but against all odds, the day came.
Featured Submissions
Leslie
My grandmother, Juana, came to the United States from the Philippines in 1973 and opened the door to the life I was born into. She was gentle but strong, and her love shaped our big, close family in ways I carry with me every day. When I think about the monument, I see her and all the women whose quiet courage, often unseen, built the foundation for the generations that came after them.
Graham
I am inspired by the suffragists bravery when protesting outside the White House even when they knew they would get arrested.
Diane
I am inspired by the suffragists creativity and resilience. I sewed this replica banner with one of my favorite slogans from the suffrage movement, "Forward Into Light".
Sloane
My drawing is of a strong independent woman holding the women's suffrage flag that I feel represents this movement in history and continues to hold true today.
Lily
My monument idea is one that honors the fight of the past while allowing space for the future of women’s rights to come. It is of a sash winding and rising upwards towards a fire. The fire represents courage, endurance, and the many voices of women who fought, and continue to fight for equality. It is a flame that can never be extinguished. At the bottom of the sash are symbols of the early suffrage movement such as a “Women Vote” button, a suffrage bluebird, and a yellow suffrage rose. The middle of the sash has the saying, “They ignited the flame. Our Voices Keep it Burning.” This honors the fight of those who came before us, and encourages new voices to continue their efforts for equality. The top of the sash is left empty and unwritten to allow for the next generation to leave their mark.
