I would like to assemble a panel that addresses women and politics in the American West. This panel would focus on how women – be it through women’s clubs, in social movements, or as politicians – influenced American politics locally, statewide, or nationally prior to or soon after they were granted suffrage. It is my hope that this panel would draw more attention to women’s activity in the political realm and their significance in the development of the American West.

My research concentrates on the suffrage movement just after equal suffrage had been granted in the states of Colorado, California, and Oklahoma. By narrowing my focus to these three states, I have found the common themes on which both suffragists and antisuffragists based their respective arguments. My intent is to demonstrate the impact of Western women on the progress of a women’s political status nationally.

If you are interested in participating in this panel, please contact me at the following email address: Sunu@ou.edu.

Best,

Sunu Kodumthara
University of Oklahoma