Beyond Supply & Demand: Duke Economics Students Present 100 Years of American Women’s Suffrage

Suffrage Party Contest

Sash with a yellow, white, yellow stripe down the length reading "Woman Suffrage Party" in black

Artistic expression of political ideals, such as sewing banners, pennants, sashes and other items and incorporating phrases like “Votes for Women,” was a widespread and powerful strategy for suffragists and part of a long tradition of artistic expression in social justice movements. Equal suffrage leagues even held competitions for poster designs to support the movement. In honor of this history and in order to provide an opportunity to be a part of it, we created a friendly competition inviting people to submit their own artistic expressions inspired by the 100th anniversary of the American women’s suffrage movement. Submissions referenced the suffrage movement as well as other voting rights struggles and all were greatly appreciated. 

Most faithful reproduction: Rebecca Bowers

Golden banner with decorative hand-embroidering and black lettering stating "failure is impossible"

Yellow banner with embroidery detail

"Failure is impossible" says to me "I am certain of the outcome, in spite of all else." Women are still experiencing setbacks and the fact that people are out there continuously challenging these setbacks is evidence of the success of historical and modern initiatives for women's rights.

Best craftspersonship: Beth Doyle

We Will Not Be Silenced Quilt

Back of a quilt in fabric with the feminist symbol and the writing "the future is female"

I created this quilt in February 2017 for the HKonJ march in Raleigh. This was right after the 2016 elections, and after I marched in Washington D.C. at the Women's March. Unfortunately, it seems that American voters still don't trust women to lead this country. Making my banner still, sadly, relevant.

Most creative interpretation: Naomi Nelson

Fabric face mask made of sunflower pattern and green ties with the letters "vote" stitched across

Your Vote is Your Voice

Fabric Face Mask - "MAHA"

Make America Healthy Again

I was inspired by the women in the abolition and suffrage movements who designed and made appareland household goodsto fight for freedom. The end of the long American suffrage movement coincided with the 1918-19 influenza pandemic. A century later, face masks are omnipresent duringthe COVID-19 pandemic. These masks pay tribute to women’s handcrafts as a site of dissent.

Best collaboration: Charlotte McEvoy and Sabrina McEvoy (T '23)

Mixed Media Collage

Our piece represents the struggles of the suffragists. Today, we thank the suffragists who led the way for the women’s liberation movement and the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues in 1977. We, as women, continue our fight to close the gap, to stand firm and make our voices heard, and to promote female leadership in politics. Together, we celebrate 100 years of gratitude for the women of the suffragette movement.

Best illustration of struggles after the 19th amendment: Amy McDonald

Votes for All Pennant

When I was thinking about making a version of an original women's suffrage pennant, I thought of everyone--women of color and indigenous women, trans women, incarcerated women--who would have been left out of the pennant's message. And, since I made the pennant while working and self-isolating at home, I was thinking about the pandemic's effects on this election year, when perennial worries about disenfranchisement have only been amplified.

Honorable Mentions

Political Cartoon Restoration

Political Cartoon Restoration by Duane Abbott

Suffrage Centenary Magnet

Suffrage Centenary Magnet by Genna Miller

Mixed Media Collage

Mixed Media Collage by Lisa Brecker Hartstein T '85

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