In her 1914 essay, "The Meaning of Woman Suffrage," Mabel Ping Hua Lee passionately argued that women’s right to vote was vital for achieving equality in both the political and social realms. She believed that the ability to vote was not just a privilege, but a powerful tool that would allow women to advocate for themselves and their communities. Lee highlighted the importance of suffrage for women of all backgrounds, but as a Chinese-American woman, she also pointed out the unique challenges faced by immigrant women, who were often excluded from both the suffrage movement and the rights granted by the state.

At the time, Lee’s advocacy was an important contribution to the suffrage movement, bringing attention to the intersection of race and gender within the fight for voting rights. Although the 19th Amendment, passed in 1920, granted women the right to vote, Lee’s perspective remained vital as it emphasized the continued struggles of women of color, who were still marginalized by racial discrimination. Today, Lee’s work serves as a reminder that the fight for equality is ongoing, and her legacy continues to inspire those advocating for the representation and rights of all women in the political process.