Documentary
Carrie Chapman Catt: Warrior for Women tells the compelling story of Iowa suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt and her role in the women’s suffrage movement.
Clips
Carrie Chapman Catt fought for women’s equality even during her time as a student at what is now Iowa State University.
In June 1916, four years before the 19th Amendment was ratified, Iowa men voted down a constitutional amendment that would allow women in the state the right to vote.
What happened in the first election that women nationwide were able to vote in? Why didn’t more women turn out to vote?
Carrie Chapman Catt said she became a suffragist at age 13 when she noticed her mother wasn’t going to town with her father to vote.
Iowa Suffragists
While Amelia Bloomer is best known for the style of dress that shares her name, she also served as the first woman president of the Iowa Woman Suffrage Association.
Anna Lawther worked to build support for the suffrage movement during World War I.
Before she became involved in the suffrage movement, Flora Dunlap was a settlement house worker, but was perhaps best known for directing the 1916 suffrage referendum campaign.
As a longtime women’s rights advocate, Martha Callanan used her wealth to further suffrage work in the state, most notably launching a woman suffrage newspaper.
As pioneer suffragist, Mary Jane Coggeshall helped launch the suffrage movement in Iowa and helped mentor Carrie Chapman Catt.
Sue Wilson Brown dedicated her life to improving the lives of African Americans and served as president of the Des Moines League of Colored Women Voters.
Unitarian ministers and lifelong friends, Gordon and Safford served as presidents of the Iowa Equal Suffrage Association.
Perspectives
Iowa women discuss why they still don’t consider the fight for women’s equality as being finished 100 years after the ratification of the 19th Amendment.
Iowa women contemplate whether or not they would have been a suffragist if they lived in that time period.
Iowa women reflect on what they remember when learning about the women’s suffrage movement for the first time and why it’s important to study it.
Iowa women discuss the importance of voting and what the 2020 election means to first-time voters.
Iowa women discuss why they’re proud to be who they are and the challenges women still face today.
Iowa women give thought to whether or not they take voting for granted and why.
Iowa women share what they think needs to happen for women to be considered equal.
Women in Politics
At the turn of the 20th century, Carrie Chapman Catt predicted we would see a women elected president by the end of the 20th century.
In every presidential election since 1964, the number of female voters has exceeded the number of male voters.
When women run for office they are as likely to win as similarly situated men.
Examine the gender gap in political party alignment between men and women.
Women face several barriers to running for office, including sterotypes, raising money and media coverage.
Women still face many gender sterotypes in America today.
As a whole, women are more likely to support social spending on issues such as education, health care and child care.
About the Show
The compelling story of Iowa suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt, who devoted most of her life to the expansion of women’s rights nationwide and around the world, and is recognized as one of the key leaders of the American women’s suffrage movement. Her political strategies and organizational skills led to the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution 100 years ago on August 18, 1920.