Moa Jamir
Circa 1910s. When the struggle for woman suffrage or right to vote was at its height in the United States, one of the big voices against giving women the right to vote was the National Association Opposed to Women Suffrage (NAOWS). It published a pamphlet elaborating on why women should not vote.
Among others, it stated that women should not vote “BECAUSE” “90% of the women either do not want it, or do not care...It means competition of women with men instead of co-operation...it is unwise to risk the good we already have for the evil which may occur...”
“To man, woman is the dearest creature on earth, and there is no extreme to which he would not go for his mother or sister... Man will go to any extreme to protect and elevate her now...As long as woman is woman and keeps her place she will get more protection and more consideration than man gets...Woman is woman. She can not unsex herself or change her sphere,” argued an information manual prepared by California State Senator JB Sanford in 191 against women suffrage
The most frequent arguments against woman suffrage were politically incompetency; domination by heart rather than mind, they would "consider personalities above principles" and govern by impulse, intuition, and hysteria, Susan E Marshall (1986) wrote.
In the United Kingdom, Women's National Anti-Suffrage League (WNASL) was launched in July 1908 to counter a “new threat of imminent female enfranchisement.” It was rooted in Victorian views about women’s position in society, Marij Van Helmond wrote in 'Buy Votes for Women: The Events on Merseyside.'
According to a BBC report, even as late as 1917 just months before the bill was passed giving women (the right) to vote, powerful men in Parliament were trying to stop votes for women. One of the top 10 arguments was by John Henderson, an MP for Aberdeenshire Western, who stated: "This is a commercial and industrial country. But it could hardly be hoped that women could govern and manage our commerce and industry...If we were to have women in this House they would be legislating for these commercial industries of the management of which they know nothing." Another MP contended that "Parliament exists for the very purpose of opposing feelings, fancies, and inclinations by reason.”
Most arguments were either based on perceived fear or danger of changing the existing system, the emotional quotient and capability of women, and most men’s responsibility towards women. Women themselves actively campaigned against the right to vote for women in both the UK and the US. The right to vote to women was granted in 1920 in the US and 1918 in the UK.
Circa 2022, on September 19, the Urban Local Bodies of three ‘most progressive’ locations in Nagaland - Association of Kohima Municipal Ward Panchayat (AKMWP), All Ward Union Mokokchung Town (AWUMT) and Dimapur Urban Council Chairmen Federation (DUCCF) submitted a memorandum to the State Government.
Among others, the specific arguments that the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001 infringes upon Article 371-A of the Constitution of India guaranteed to the people of Nagaland, contained some significant remarks, portentously reminiscent of the quotes cited above, more than a century after.
Sample this: “Land, taxation and Women reservation are related to Article 371-A. This provision and rights given to the Nagas in the Constitution of India are too powerful which others do not have.”
“There is no relation between the two factors of land & building taxation and Women reservation, however, the indirect correlations between the two drawn by the people...In Naga society, land is never inherited by women because of the fact that inheritance flows exclusively through the male line and therefore, any issues over land are not a matter for Naga Women...If the ULB elections proceed without resistance, it is the women who are part of the policy making to tax the Nagas and further take important decisions on land and taxation.”
“For the Nagas, it is because of Article 371-A, Nagas can make laws on their own land including laws on taxation, resources, women and people. All resources include people and women and accordingly, a law deciding on the political rights of the Naga women rest with the people...”
Introduction of women’s political culture was also cited as the reason behind “unrestrained violence during the protest” against ULB elections some years ago.
Perhaps, more justification can be found by harking back to arguments against woman's suffrage presented over a century ago to further buttress their contention.
For any comment, drop a line to jamir.moa@gmai;.com
