Women’s suffrage did not happen in a vacuum, rather it was the result of decades of women moving out of the home and into the schools and workplaces. The Philadelphia region has a strong tradition of progressing women’s rights and opportunities for education, work, and other activities. Additionally, the city’s role as a center for African-American politics and culture, as well as institutions such as the world’s first medical college for women, mark the region as a significant center for civil rights.