I and others of my sex find ourselves controlled by a form of government in the inauguration of which we had no voice.

The quote by Victoria Woodhull expresses the frustration and injustice felt by women who were excluded from political participation during her time. Woodhull, a suffragist and early advocate for women's rights, is highlighting the lack of representation for women in the formation and operation of the government. She points out that women like herself had no voice or influence in the inauguration or creation of a government that, nevertheless, controlled their lives and restricted their freedoms. This statement underscores the gender inequality that existed in the political systems of the time.

Woodhull was a pioneering figure in the women’s suffrage movement and one of the first women to run for President of the United States in 1872. Her quote reflects the deep inequity of a system where men held all the political power, yet women were subject to the laws and policies those men enacted. Woodhull’s advocacy focused on achieving political and social equality for women, and this quote is a direct criticism of a government that did not recognize the equal rights of women.

The origin of this quote comes from Woodhull's broader activism and fight for women's rights. As a political leader and public figure, she often spoke out against the patriarchal nature of both government and society. This statement is likely part of her efforts to challenge the norms that denied women the ability to participate in democracy and have a say in the laws that governed their lives. It’s an early expression of the broader women’s rights movement that gained momentum throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In a larger context, Woodhull’s words are a critique of the exclusion of women from the political process, emphasizing how fundamental rights such as the vote were denied to half of the population. Her quote remains significant in the ongoing conversation about representation and the importance of including all voices in the formation of government. It serves as a reminder of the historical struggles women faced and the continuing fight for equality in political systems around the world.