"Sister Suffragette" is a pro-suffrageprotest song written and composed byRichard M. Sherman andRobert B. Sherman (a duo known as theSherman Brothers). It was sung by actressGlynis Johns in the role ofMrs. Winifred Banks in the 1964Disney filmMary Poppins. The song's melody was originally from a scrapped piece called "Practically Perfect", also written and composed by the Sherman Brothers.

The lyrics mentionEmmeline Pankhurst, who with her daughtersChristabel andSylvia founded theWomen's Social and Political Union inManchester, England. Some of the words are: "Our daughters' daughters will adore us, and they'll sing in grateful chorus, well done, Sister Suffragette!"^[1]

The melody of "Sister Suffragette" was borrowed from an earlier song entitled "Practically Perfect", which had already been deleted from the1964 film production. According to the songwriters in their autobiographical book,Walt's Time, actressGlynis Johns thought she was being offered the title role of "Mary Poppins" when in fact she had been signed to play "Mrs. Banks". To amplify Disney's and Johns' mutual embarrassment, the misunderstanding only became apparent as both parties sat opposite each other inWalt Disney'sBurbank studio-lot office. Thinking quickly, Disney softened Johns' disappointment of not getting the film's title role by telling her of the 'terrific new song' which theSherman Brothers had written especially for her. Disney called up the songwriters to tell them that he was "just about to take Johns to lunch and how she was looking forward to hearing the new song following the meal", all within earshot of the actress. The Sherman Brothers deciphered Disney's coded hint, worked feverishly through their own lunch hour, and wrote "Sister Suffragette". For instance, the original lyric:

I'm Practically Perfect in every way
In ev'rything I do and in everything I say

Quickly evolved into:

We're clearly soldiers in petticoats
Dauntless crusaders for women's votes!

The 2004Mary Poppins stage musical contains a song titled "Practically Perfect" which, while being heavily based on the original, contains none of the tune. The replacement song is instead called "Being Mrs. Banks".

• Sherman, Robert B.Walt's Time: from before to beyond. Santa Clarita: Camphor Tree Publishers, 1998.

• 1964 songs
• Songs from Mary Poppins
• Protest songs
• Songs about activists
• Songs written by the Sherman Brothers
• Women's suffrage
• Cultural depictions of Emmeline Pankhurst

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from April 2022