Switzerland's 1971 Vote: The Long Fight for Women's Suffrage

In 1971, Switzerland became one of the last democracies in the world to grant women the right to vote in federal elections. This episode explores the decades-long struggle for women's suffrage in the Swiss Confederation, from the first petitions in the 1860s to the narrow national referendum that finally passed. We discuss the role of direct democracy in blocking change, the counterintuitive resistance from some women themselves, and the cantonal laggards like Appenzell Innerrhoden that held out until 1990. Along the way, we touch on key figures like the activist Marie Goegg-Pouchoulin, the 1959 referendum that failed overwhelmingly, and the 1969 Women's March on Bern. It's a story about how a system designed to protect minority rights can also entrench inequality — and how the Swiss, famously proud of their democracy, were forced to confront a blind spot that took over a century to correct. #Switzerland #WomenSuffrage #1971 #DirectDemocracy #MarieGoeggPouchoulin #Frauenstimmrecht #AppenzellInnerrhoden #SwissHistory #Feminism #Referendum #1959 #1969 #Bern #Eidgenossenschaft #Bundesverfassung #History #FexingoHistory #Europe Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo