Our Sisters in China Are Free

Abstract

1912 was the year of the Chinese Suffragists in the United States, and Americans were closely watching the Chinese Revolution and the ways in which women participated in it. The Chinese republican revolutionists championed women’s rights, and white suffragists seized upon these news stories to support their cause and used them to shame American men. The white suffragists also looked for Chinese women living in the United States who could tell them more about the events in China. Those Chinese women, some American-born but most of them immigrants barred from naturalized citizenship, drew on transpacific conversations to educate their white sisters about the women’s movement in China. Having captured the white suffragists’ attention, Chinese women used the opportunity to raise their concerns about the United States’ policies towards China. As a result, Chinese and Chinese American women were unexpectedly visible in American suffrage debates and events. The chapter focuses mainly on Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, a Chinese-born resident of New York City and active suffrage campaigner.