antisuffrage

Antisuffrage refers to the opposition to the expansion of suffrage, particularly the right of women to vote. Movements against women's suffrage existed in many countries, primarily in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, coinciding with the rise of the women's suffrage movement. Antisuffrage arguments often centered on traditional gender roles, asserting that women's primary place was in the home and that political participation would detract from their domestic duties and negatively impact society. Some opponents also claimed that women lacked the necessary intellectual capacity or emotional stability for political decision-making, or that their involvement would disrupt the natural order of society.

In many Western countries, organized antisuffrage groups were formed, often comprising both men and women. These groups employed various tactics, including public speaking, distributing literature, and lobbying politicians, to counter the arguments of suffragists. While the arguments varied in their specifics, a common thread was the preservation of existing social structures and the perceived stability that came with limited political participation. The antisuffrage movement ultimately failed to prevent the widespread granting of women's suffrage in most democracies, but it represented a significant ideological challenge to the evolving concepts of equality and citizenship.