Dear Editor,
I attended the National Women United Day Celebrations this past weekend. It was a powerful reminder of the unbreakable spirit of the women’s suffrage movement and the sacrifices made to secure the rights we enjoy today. The gathering, which brought together women from all walks of life, underscored a fundamental truth: we have a duty—not a choice—to rise, speak up, speak out, and continue the fight for equality and justice.
Womanish Ways: Freedom, Human Rights & Democracy, the acclaimed documentary by Marion Bethel was screened at the event. The film chronicles the courage of Bahamian women who, between 1948 and 1962, risked their reputations, endured intimidation, and faced unimaginable opposition to secure the right to vote and demand a seat at the table in a society that denied them a voice.
The suffragettes laid the groundwork, with the Rt. Hon. Dame Janet Bostwick and others building upon it, but there is still so much to fight for. Today, we face challenges that require our collective voice and strength—gender-based violence, sexual exploitation, economic inequality, and access to quality healthcare are just a few. Most urgently, we must confront the issue of gender inequality in our citizenship laws. This unjust disparity affects so many of our classmates, neighbours, and friends, and it is time to stand firm against it. Our citizenship laws should reflect fairness and inclusivity, honouring the legacy of our suffragette foremothers by treating all Bahamians equally.
Remember, Ladies, silence is complicity. We owe it to those who came before us—and to the young girls watching us now—to keep pushing for justice. Each of our voices matters and united, we form a force that cannot and will not be ignored.
Together, we can create a future where every woman is valued and her rights are protected not just today but for generations to come. It is the future the suffragettes dreamed of and fought for. The baton has been passed. Let’s run our leg of the race.
Written by: Senator Maxine Seymour
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