Eighty years ago, on April 21, 1944, France decreed that women would have the right to vote in postwar elections. At the time, France remained under German occupation, and General Charles de Gaulle was leading a provisional government. With other priorities taking precedence, French women did not actually cast their ballot for the first time until April 1945. After more than 150 years of agitating for this fundamental right of citizenship, French women finally secured the vote. This victory came rather late, especially considering the promising proclamations of women such as Olympe de Gouges d…