I believe the length of time was due to Men and the 'brainwashing' of women from birth.
The first women's suffrage (with the same property qualifications as for men) was accidentally granted (the word "people" was used instead of "men") in New Jersey in 1776 and rescinded in 1807
The first unrestricted women's suffrage in terms of voting rights (women were not initially permitted to stand for election) in a self-governing country was granted in New Zealand. The women's suffrage bill was adopted mere weeks before the general election of 1893
