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COULD YOU HAVE BEEN A
SUFFRAGETTE?
Today, in the UK, everyone aged 18 or over can vote for a local member of parliament (MP), which in turn leads to
the formation of a government. But for a long time only wealthier men could vote, and no women at all. The
majority of the population had no say in who set the taxes they had to pay, or who made the laws by which they
had to live.
Gradually, more men were given the vote
but women were still left out. Many men
(and some women) thought a woman’s place
was in the home, and that the running of the
country should be left to men.
There were two main organisations in Britain
fighting for women’s suffrage (right to vote).
The members of one group came to be
known as ‘suffragettes’, and the others were
called ‘suffragists’. They operated in quite
different ways – so deciding which one you
might have joined may not be as easy as you
think.
CHOOSE YOUR PATH
Millicent Fawcett founded the National
Union of Women’s Suffrage in 1897, and its
members became known as the suffragists.
Fawcett didn’t believe in using violence to
achieve her political aims – in fact, she felt it
would only hinder their chances of winning
the vote. Instead, the suffragists believed in
peaceful protest.
Emmeline Pankhurst, on the other hand,
wanted ‘Deeds, not words.’ Six years after
Millicent Fawcett founded the suffragist
movement, Pankhurst helped to found the
Women’s Social and Political Union. She
believed it was time for ordinary women to
take matters into their own hands, and use
direct action.
Her suffragettes began by disrupting
politicians’ speeches, shouting and waving
banners. Later, they chained themselves to
the gates of Buckingham Palace.
That doesn’t sound too violent to
me. Just disruptive and loud.
Yes, but they did also set fire to buildings. It
was risky and some people really didn’t
approve of the suffragettes’ methods.