Emmy Helmer's 1912 Speech Analysis

Matthieu Manghardt

English 11

Ms. Raleigh

12/4/2015

Transcript of Emmy Helmer’s 1912 Speech

Citizens of Norway, I speak to you today as a woman who wishes to be seen as a human being. A woman who wishes to be granted the human right to vote. A woman who wishes to secure your support in the fight for equality. We have been fighting gender inequality since 1890 and yet, 22 years later, many of us still cannot chose our country’s leaders.

In 1901 we won our fist battle, and 42 percent of women over 25 years of age finally had the right to vote. Unfortunately, this right was dependent on the wealth of the woman in question. In 1907 Parliament once more debated the right for women to vote and some women finally got to vote in general elections (stortingsvalg) for the first time. This right was again dependent upon the wealth of the women (or their husbands). Despite that victory, we also encountered resistance from supporters of male dominance such as Doctor Ole Olsen Malm. He had stated that “strong brain work does not just cause indisposition in women, but leads directly to sickness in her.” How is it that

Change is finally occurring more rapidly, as two years ago we were granted the same voting rights as men in local elections, and last year Anna Rogstad became the first female Member of our Parliament. This finally forced the nation to pay attention to our cause as the event was met with great public attention, and people even gathered outside of our Parliament building for the occasion. Now that we have built up momentum, we must aim for total equality in voting. Other countries have already acknowledged the need for this and in fact New Zealand gave women universal suffrage 74 years ago. Finland and Australia also granted their female populace the right to select their leaders. Our women are not inferior to theirs and should be given the same power! Pause for