Women’s Right to Vote in Greece
Women’s Day / May 28, (1952)
Bust in Rethymno, Crete, of Kalliroi Parren, pioneer of the feminist movement in Greece.
When did women get the right to vote in Greece?
Women’s Right to Vote in Greece: A Historical Journey
Women in Greece gained full and equal voting rights on May 28, 1952, when Law 2159 was passed, granting Greek women the right to vote and stand as candidates in parliamentary elections. This milestone came after decades of feminist activism and represented a significant turning point in Greek democracy.
Early Feminist Movement in Greece
The struggle for women’s suffrage in Greece began in the early 20th century, coinciding with the first wave of feminism spreading across Europe. The nascent Greek feminist movement faced unique challenges shaped by the country’s political instability, traditional gender roles, and relatively late industrialization compared to Western European nations.
In 1887, Kalliroi Parren founded the newspaper “Efimeris ton Kyrion” (Ladies’ Newspaper), which became a powerful advocate for women’s rights. Through this platform, Parren promoted female education and suffrage, connecting Greek feminism with international women’s movements.
Limited Women’s Suffrage and Gradual Progress
The path to full voting rights was marked by incremental achievements:
- In 1930, literate women over 30 years old gained the right to vote in municipal elections, though this was limited to a small percentage of the female population due to educational restrictions.
- In 1949, women who had participated in the resistance during World War II were granted limited voting rights.
- On May 28, 1952, Law 2159 granted full and equal voting rights to all Greek women, allowing them to participate in parliamentary elections held in November of that year.
Key Figures in the Greek Suffrage Movement
Kalliroi Parren (1861-1940)
As Greece’s first feminist journalist, Parren established “Efimeris ton Kyrion” and founded the Union for Women’s Rights in 1920. Her advocacy laid crucial groundwork for the suffrage movement.
Avra Theodoropoulou (1880-1963)
A prominent intellectual and founder of the League for Women’s Rights in 1920, Theodoropoulou worked tirelessly for women’s education and voting rights. Her legal expertise was instrumental in drafting proposals for constitutional amendments.
Maria Svolou (1892-1976)
A socialist feminist and political activist, Svolou served as president of the League for Women’s Rights and helped bridge the gap between feminist organizations and political parties, which proved essential for legislative success.
Eleni Skoura (1896-1991)
After the achievement of voting rights, Skoura became the first woman elected to the Greek Parliament in the 1953 elections, representing Thessaloniki.
Context of Greece’s Delayed Women’s Suffrage
Greece’s journey to women’s suffrage came relatively late compared to many Western countries. Several factors contributed to this delay:
- Political instability and frequent regime changes throughout the first half of the 20th century
- The Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922) and its aftermath
- The occupation during World War II and subsequent Civil War (1946-1949)
- Deeply entrenched traditional gender roles in Greek society
Lower literacy rates among women, particularly in rural areas
Impact and Legacy
The 1952 enfranchisement of women marked a profound shift in Greek democracy. In the November 1952 elections, women participated as voters for the first time in a parliamentary election. However, true gender parity in political representation remained elusive.
The struggle for women’s political rights in Greece illustrates how suffrage movements often reflect national political contexts while connecting to broader international feminist currents. Today, Greece continues to work toward gender equality in political representation, with the women’s suffrage movement serving as an important foundation for ongoing efforts toward full equality.
The achievement of voting rights on May 28, 1952, remains a pivotal moment in Greek history—one that fundamentally expanded democracy and created opportunities for women’s voices to shape the nation’s future.
UN Women
Constitution of Greece 1975, as amended to 2019
President Katerina N. Sakellaropoulou (2020-2025)
Katerina Sakellaropoulou (Greek: Κατερίνα Σακελλαροπούλου, born 30 May 1956) is a Greek politician, who has served as President of Greece since 13 March 2020. She was elected by the Hellenic Parliament to succeed Prokopis Pavlopoulos on 22 January 2020. Prior to her election as President of Greece, Sakellaropoulou served as President of the Council of State, the highest administrative court of Greece. She was the first female President of Greece. Since Greece declared its independence in 1821 no woman has been elected as the Head of State.
> presidency.gr/en/katerina-sakellaropoulou-en
Kalliroi Siganou-Parren: Women’s Rights Champion from Crete
What you might not realize is that the freedoms Greek women enjoy only recently came about. The dowry system was banned in 1983, that’s in your lifetime. Greek women earned the right to vote in 1952, almost 40 years after the women in the US. Arranged marriage still happens in Greece and Cyprus, and even in the US.
In patriarchy oppressed Crete, where the “extreme” men have taboos of engaging in “female” domestic work such as cleaning up after their meal for fear of losing their masculinity, a forward-thinking woman rose up to champion the rights of women. You have never heard of her, Kalliroi Parren, but this is her story.
> wikipedia.org/Kalliroi_Parren
Lyceum Club of Greek Women
The Lykeion ton Hellenidon (Lyceum Club of Greek Women) was founded in 1911 by Callirrhoe Siganou-Parren, a pioneer of the feminist movement in Greece and the country’s first woman journalist. It is a volunteer organization, which, in the 103 years of its existence, has played an active and important role in the preservation and presentation of Greek cultural traditions and folk customs. Not less important has been the Club’s social contribution, especially in the domain of adult education for women and the defence of women’s rights.
Today it maintains its dynamic presence in Greek society thanks to the voluntary service of its many dedicated members in Athens, in its 51 Branches all over Greece and in its 16 Bureaus abroad. The latter are particularly appreciated by the Greeks of the Diaspora, who see in the Lykeion a living link with the land of their origin and a “treasurer” of their ethnic traditions and cultural heritage.
> lykeionellinidon.gr
Greece legalises same-sex marriage, adoption
Feb 15, 2024 – Greece’s parliament on Thursday overwhelmingly adopted a bill legalising same-sex marriage and adoption in a landmark reform promoted by the conservative government despite opposition from the powerful Orthodox Church. > france24.com/greece-set-to-legalise-same-sex-marriage-adoption