List of the first female members of parliament by country
This is alist of the first female members of parliamentin each country and territory.Princess Isabelof Brazil could have become the first female parliamentarian in 1871, as the Brazilian constitution reserved a seat in theSenatefor the heir presumptive to the throne once they reached 25 years of age. However, she did not take the seat she was entitled to.[1]Instead, the first female parliamentarians came from theGrand Duchy of Finland,where 19 women were elected to theEduskuntain1907.[2]The first female parliamentarian in a fully-independent country wasAnna Rogstadof Norway, who took her seat in theStortingas a substitute in 1911,[3]while the first woman directly elected to parliament in an independent country wasJeannette Rankinof the United States, who was elected to theHouse of Representativesin1916,taking office the following year.
In some cases – such asGrace Schneiders-HowardofSuriname– women were elected before they had the right to vote, having been granted the right to stand as candidates but not active suffrage.[4]In many cases, the first female parliamentarians were appointed rather than elected members. Only one sovereign country – theVatican City– has never had a female parliamentarian as membership of the Vatican legislature, thePontifical Commission,is limited to cardinals, all of whom are men.
List of the first female members of parliament by country[edit]
Members are listed by when they took office. The list excludes members of provisional, non-elected legislatures constituted during or following conflicts.
References[edit]
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- ^Pioneering women in Faroese politicsFaroe Islands
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- ^The first women Members of Parliament in Finland, 1907-1908University of Helsinki
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- ^History of women's suffrage in JerseyStates of Jersey
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- ^1989 marked start of women's involvement in parliamentary life as candidates — SIGIThe Jordna Times, 20 November 2016
- ^Name: FARRAR, Sidney Mary Catherine Anne MBE, LadyEuropeans in East Africa
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- ^First women elected to Kuwait parliamentThe Guardian, 18 May 2009
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