Perfect 36: When Women Won the Vote is a 2016 documentary film exploring the history and struggle of suffragists to win the right for women to vote. The film was directed by Pamela K. Long and narrated by the well-known country music radio personality Devon O'Day. The movie is a testament to the remarkable challenges and obstacles faced by female trailblazers and their eventual victory after years of advocacy, hard work, and perseverance.
The film is set in 1920 in a small Tennessee town where the suffrage movement is playing out. Suffrage, otherwise known as the women's right to vote, was, for decades, an abstract right that women had struggled to attain. However, the year 1920, just three years after the end of World War I, marks the year of success for the suffragists, becoming a landmark moment in the ongoing fight for equality. The movie centers around the historical happenings in Tennessee, an essential state in the fight to ratify the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote.
Speaker Beth Harwell, a woman and Republican Party member, is a compelling figure in the film. She is steadfast in her commitment to seeing the amendment pass in Tennessee, where it has historically languished due to a range of reasons, some of which stem from cultural attitudes and other areas where more information was needed to be understood. Harwell, however, had to walk an incredibly fine line; she had to secure votes from the male-dominated state legislature while also maintaining the support of her fellow suffragists who were pressuring her about tactics to secure the needed two-thirds vote.
The film highlights the work of notable women, including Carrie Chapman Catt, the leader of the National American Woman Suffrage Association who led the final push to win over the necessary states, and Anna Howard Shaw, the association's former leader who continued to blaze the trail in the aftermath of the Civil War. The movie showcases these and other lesser-known women, who all played a crucial role in this momentous time in American history.
Perfect 36: When Women Won the Vote beautifully portrays the indispensable work of these activists, delving deep into the ideals and values that characterized the women's struggle for voting rights. It also reveals the intricacies of their relationships and the division within the suffrage movement, particularly around issues of race and class, which had an undeniable impact on the final outcome.
At its heart, the movie shows that the struggle for women's suffrage was often more complicated than what history books have taught. The movie highlights local attitudes that many outside of Tennessee do not know still lingered after years of activism. Ultimately, the fight to get the 19th amendment ratified and become law meant that women could make their voices heard, but the work of these women did not end there. The movie depicts how the hard-won right to vote was only just the beginning of a hard-fought battle for true societal change and progress that has lasted throughout history and taught hard lessons about democracy, social practice and cultural values.
In conclusion, Perfect 36: When Women Won the Vote is an exceptional and inspiring film that highlights the determination of a group of women to break down gender barriers and make a difference in the world. It captures the tireless efforts of these women, how they cemented their place in history, and the unshakeable spirit that drove them to push for progress. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in American history, as well as themes of civil rights, gender equality, and societal change over time.
Perfect 36: When Women Won the Vote is a 2017 documentary with a runtime of 25 minutes.
