Arguments for and against women getting the vote Flashcards
For- how parliament affects people’s lives
Parliament’s decisions affect both men and women so women should be able to vote from the MPs who pass those laws
For- responsibilities of women/ men
There are many single women who bear the same responsibilities as men
For- increasing opportunities
Women have increasing opportunities in education and work- the vote should come next
For- financial responsibilities of women/ men
Women pay taxes just like men
For- trusting women
Women can already vote in local elections and they can serve on local government bodies such as education committees- this shows that they can be trusted with the vote
For- knowledge/ respect of men/ women
Many uneducated working men can vote, whilst well-educated, ‘respectable’ women can’t
For- knowledge of women
Women have special skills and expertise in areas such as education and the home- they can help Parliament make better laws concerning issues in these areas
Against- roles of men/ women
Men and women have different interests and responsibilities: women are home-makers and mothers, whilst it is the role of men to debate and take difficult decisions
Against- classes
It is mainly middle-class women campaigning for the vote. They will have little interest in laws to help ordinary working people
Against- trusting women
Women are not rational- they are too emotional to be trusted with the vote
Against- nature of women
Women are pure and should be protected from the grubby world of politics
Against- role of women in the country
Women do not fight in wars for their country, so they should not have a say in whether the country should go to war
Against- importance of vote
There are much more pressing concerns, such as Ireland and the trade unions to worry about- forget about the vote
Against- responsibilities of women
Giving respectable women the vote will encourage them to develop their careers and neglect their family duties, resulting in only undesirable classes having children
