The Suffragettes

The struggle for EQUALITY has been long and hard in the 20th Century. People began to campaign about changing society and creating a much more equal system in terms of RACE, RELIGION, DISABILITY AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN.

IN 1900 1 OUT OF 2 PEOPLE FACED DISCRIMINATION EVERY DAY - WOMEN. THEY WOULD CAMPAIGN HARD TO GET CHANGE, STARTING WITH THE RIGHT TO VOTE!

By the start of the 20th century an increasing amount of women wanted change!!

They wanted greater freedoms for women.
They wanted the right to go to university.
They wanted to have a larger choice of jobs and not simply rely on getting married and having children!

The way to get real change in society was to get the RIGHT TO VOTE!
The right to vote is known as SUFFRAGE.

There were two ways of trying to get this right

PEACEFUL PROTEST
(Legal means)

These group of women were led by MILLICENT FAWCETT.
She set up the NUWSS (National Union of Women's suffrage Societies) in 1897

They tried to get change PEACEFULLY through a number of things:

They held protest marches
They wrote letters to M.P's (Members of Parliament)
They wrote articles in the newspapers
They signed petitions

However, by the early 1900's, even with a Liberal Party government they thought would deliver, they did not seem to be making much progress

MILITANT ACTION (Sometimes used violence) 'Deeds Not Words'

This group of women were led by EMELINE PANKHURST & her daughters SYLVIA & CRISTABEL.
They set up the WSPU (Women's Social & Political Union)
They were determined to raise the issue of votes for women in other more militant (extreme or VIOLENT) ways:

They chained themselves to the gates of major buildings like Buckingham Palace or Downing street. This would raise publicity.
They smashed windows in some men's clothes shops
They threw things at MP's who were against them
They even went on HUNGER STRIKE! The Prime Minister was so scared of creating a martyr (someone that would die for their cause) that he ordered the huger strikers to be FORCE FED through tubes into their nose
They introduced a law called the CAT AND MOUSE ACT - They would let Suffragettes out when on Hunger strike - When they had eaten they re arrested them!

Women were classed as lower rank in society by some people.

Some people thought women would not be able to cope with making decisions in parliament, they were patronisingly considered too emotional.
Women, it was thought, should stay at home to cook, clean and have children. It was their 'duty'
Some people used religious reasons to show a 'women's role'

SUFFRAGETTES AND THEIR ACTIONS

The actions of Suffragettes raised concerns across Edwardian Britain. Many men and some women regarded them as extremists! They detested their actions and considered them 'unladylike'

The treatment of the authorities was extreme.

Policemen regularly punched and kicked Suffragettes including outside Parliament
Women were locked up and held in solitary confinement.
Perhaps most cruel of all - women were subjected to FORCE FEEDING when they went on hunger strike in prison. Tubes were inserted up their nose and down their throat. They were fed this way as the government did not want to create any martyrs for the Suffragette cause.

In 1913 one militant suffragette called Emily Davison did something that would be seen all over the world.

At the biggest and most famous horse race of the year, the DERBY, she jumped on to the course and in front of the Kings Horse, Anmer. She was catapulted to the ground and later died in hospital.

It is unclear whether Emily Davison wanted to kill herself in the process or simply grab the reins in protest. Her death however was filmed by news reel cameras and would attract world wide publicity. However, it would not get women the vote.
It would be an event much much greater that would change the world forever.

Despite all the campaigns and publicity the cause of votes for women looked no closer to achieving its objectives in 1914! All the bills introduced to Parliament had failed to get through - despite a lot of support from many MP's. However, fate would intervene. In August 1914 Britain found itself at war! The First World War would transform the world but would also transform the role and rights of women. Some even suggest it was the war and not the Suffragette campaign that won the vote for women.

how did the suffragettes react to the outbreak of war?

When war broke out BOTH the Suffragists and Suffragettes suspended their campaigns
Suffragists campaigned for men to join the army
Suffragettes campaigned for women to be allowed to work in war industries
By 1916 Britain was suffering an acute labour shortage with so many men at war. There was a shortage of up to 2 million people and this was affecting British industry and therefore the conduct of the war. Food supplies were also under threat due to the UBoat menace. Therefore, the loss of so many men in agriculture also proved a massive problem - women were to be the answer.
The Government took the lead in employing women almost exclusively in their government run munitions factories. Private industry would follow suit. Nearly 1 million women were involved in munitions alone by the end of the war. Many had sacrificed long hours and in some cases their health. Many were nicknamed canaries as their skin turned yellow due to the chemicals in munitions.
Women would also begin to fill in positions on railways, police, postage and transportation. Some would be involved in the mining. A LAND ARMY would be used to bring in the crops
What was soon proved was that women not only stepped in and stepped up when the country was in peril - but crucially that they were as good if not better than men. Time and motion studies suggested that they excelled in some industries and were more efficient than men.
Many women also revelled in the experience - finding roles and a purpose. They were more determined than ever to achieve the vote

1918 representation of the people act

As the war drew to a close the Government granted the REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE ACT. This was passed by a masive 7:1 majority showing the respect earned by women for their cause and from their support in the war. At last women were granted the vote. HOWEVER, there were limits to this vote:

All males over 21 given the right to vote
All females over 30 given the right to vote - but they had to be householders or married to a householder (approximately 9 million women)
Therefore, it was pointed out that this was not equality; there was an age difference and this clearly favoured married women - showing a remaining element of male control. It also prevented those who had worked so hard in the war- young single women - the right to vote