Women’s History Month: Mabel Ping-Hua Lee

When women marched for the right to vote in the early 1900s, Mabel Ping-Hua Lee wasn’t just walking, she was leading on horseback. At just 16 years old, she became a key figure in the women’s suffrage movement, breaking barriers for both Asian Americans and women in the fight for equality.

Born in 1896 in China, Lee immigrated to the U.S. and became a scholar, activist, and advocate for women’s rights. She was a brilliant student, later becoming the first Chinese woman to earn a Ph.D. from Columbia University. Despite her activism, even after the 19th Amendment passed in 1920, Chinese immigrants were still barred from U.S. citizenship and voting rights due to the Chinese Exclusion Act, a reality she fought to change.

-She led a major suffrage parade in New York City in 1912, advocating for women’s rights.

-She fought for education and civic engagement for Chinese women and immigrants.

-She became a community leader, establishing a Chinese community center and working for social reform.

Even though she never gained the right to vote in her lifetime, Mabel Ping-Hua Lee paved the way for future generations of Asian American women to make their voices heard.

Her legacy is a reminder that the fight for equality has never been just one story, one moment, or one group. It is all of us, together.

This Women’s History Month, we celebrate Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, a fearless suffragist who fought for a future she could only imagine.

Read More About Her: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mabel_Ping-Hua_Lee

Image Description: A black-and-white newspaper clipping featuring a portrait of Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, a young Chinese American suffragist. She is wearing a high-collared traditional Chinese blouse, her hair neatly styled, and has a confident, determined expression. The article headline reads, 'Chinese Girl Wants Vote,' with a caption noting that she was preparing to enter Barnard College and participate in a suffrage parade.