Garff MHK Daphne Caine said the statue to the Manx-born mother of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst would commemorate the significant role she played.
She said her influence had ’remained hidden for over a hundred years’.
Mrs Caine said there are very few statues that honour those who have made a great contribution to the island or world events.
Tynwald was told the public can support the Friends of Sophia Goulden’s plans by making a donation to the estimated £70,000 cost.
Mrs Caine stressed the Friends are not asking the court for funding.
Sculptors are finalising plans for the statue which will feature Sophia with Emmeline as a child.
Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas tabled, with some trepidation, a CoMin amendment for the court merely to note the importance of Sophia Goulding’s contribution. He said it would ’inappropriate’ for parliament to call on the public to make donations to one cause over another.
Douglas East MHK Chris Robertshaw described that as ’mealy-mouthed nonsense’.
The amendment failed to carry.