Origins & Early Life

Vida Jane Mary Goldstein (pron. ) (13 April 1869 – 15 August 1949) was an Australian suffragist and social reformer. She was one of four female candidates at the 1903 federal election, the first at which women were eligible to stand. Goldstein was known both for her public speaking and as an editor of pro-suffrage publications.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Despite her efforts campaigning for women's suffrage in Victoria, it was the last Australian state to implement equal voting rights, with women not granted the right to vote until 1908. In 1903, Goldstein unsuccessfully contested the Senate as an independent, winning 16.8 percent of the vote. She was one of the first four women to stand for federal parliament, along with Selina Anderson, Nellie Martel, and Mary Moore-Bentley. Goldstein ran for parliament a further four times, and despite never winning an election won back her deposit on all but one occasion. She stood on left-wing platforms, and some of her more radical views alienated both the general public and some of her associates in the women's movement.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

After women's suffrage was achieved, Goldstein remained prominent as a campaigner for women's rights and various other social reforms. She was an ardent...

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