Suffragists, Suffragettes + Gender Dimension

Question 1

What are the origins of the women’s suffrage movement

Answer 1

-originated late 1860s
-demands + arguments simple
-women should be treated on equal basis to men in politics
-2 main groups to emerge — suffragists 1897 + suffragettes 1903

Question 2

What/who were the suffragists 1897

Answer 2

-National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies with 100,000 members 1914
-formed from merging of several suffrage groups
-focussed on peaceful + constitutional methods
-e.g meetings, handing out leaflets, petitions, marches + lobbying politicians
-led by Fawcett + described movement as ‘like a glacier, slow but unstoppable’

Question 3

What/who were the suffragettes 1903

Answer 3

-more militant + prepared break the law
-chained themselves to railings, heckling, disrupting public meetings + criminal damage/arson
-when imprisoned went on hunger strikes which provoked govt implement act to force-feed prisoners to avoid suffragette deaths + subsequent martyrs for cause (Cat + Mouse act)
-e.g. Emily Davison trampled to death by kings horse 1913 Epsom Derby

Question 4

What were the arguments for giving women the right to vote

Answer 4

-women are intellectual equals of men
-pay equivalent taxes as men + obey same laws
-could already fit in local assemblies + run as mayor
-roles as wives + mothers made vital contribution
-could bring additional experience + insights in areas like childcare

Question 5

What are the arguments against enfranchising women

Answer 5

-concept of ‘separate spheres’ held that some areas of life like politics + military ‘naturally’ better suited to men
-women too emotional to cope effectively with tough world of politics
-drastic actions of suffragettes proved women unsuitable for political responsibility
-would be distraction from they key domestic roles

Question 6

How successful were the suffragists + suffragettes

Answer 6

-witnessed success quicker than chartists
-most women given vote 1918 + rest 1928
-invaluable contribution women during war as munition workers gave them success
-campaigning brought success

Question 7

Failures?

Answer 7

-took longer women be elected as MPs in large numbers
-first MP Nancy Astor 1919 but first PM not until 1979 Thatcher
-only after 1997 that significant numbers female MPs began get elected
-women remain underrepresented in Westminster compared to that of men