#wspu

[the-history-of-fighting]

Emmeline Pankhurst, Leader of the Women's Social Political Union (WSPU), getting arrested outside Buckingham Palace in London in May 1914 while protesting for women's right to vote.

[writing-for-life]

Justice—Hilda Mary Dallas

"Justice" from the "The Suffragette" by Hilda Mary Dallas via DailyArt mobile app

Today is March 8th, so we celebrate International Women's Day with a fantastic poster from the times of suffrage. This poster depicts an im

[droitsdesfemmes]

Votes for women (Annie Kenney (gauche) et Christabel Pankhurst, responsables du WSPU, vers 1908).

L'adoption du Representation of the People Act en 1918 fut un tournant majeur dans l'histoire du suffrage au Royaume-Uni. Cette législation a étendu considérablement le droit de vote, marquant un pas significatif vers le suffrage universel.

En effet, la loi a instauré un suffrage universel masculin pour les hommes de plus de 21 ans, élargissant ainsi le corps électoral masculin. Par ailleurs, elle a introduit un suffrage censitaire pour les femmes de plus de 30 ans, ce qui a représenté une avancée considérable dans la lutte pour le droit de vote des femmes. Cette réforme a permis de passer de 8,3 millions d'électeurs à près de 19 millions, doublant presque le nombre de personnes éligibles pour voter.

Le contexte de la Première Guerre mondiale a joué un rôle clé dans cette évolution. La mobilisation massive d'hommes sans droit de vote et leur sacrifice sur les champs de bataille ont rendu difficilement tenable le maintien de l'exclusion du droit de vote pour ces combattants. La loi a également abaissé l'âge de vote à 19 ans pour les militaires, reconnaissant ainsi leur contribution à la défense nationale.

En parallèle, le droit de vote limité accordé aux femmes était une réponse au mouvement des suffragettes qui exigeaient l'égalité des droits électoraux. Le gouvernement, cherchant à apaiser les tensions sociales et à éviter la reprise des actions militantes des suffragettes après la guerre, a opté pour une approche progressive.

Cette loi a également ouvert la voie à l'éligibilité des femmes au parlement britannique. En 1919, Nancy Astor devint la première femme à siéger au Parlement, marquant ainsi un autre moment historique pour les femmes dans la politique britannique.

Finalement, en 1928, le droit de vote fut étendu à toutes les femmes de plus de 21 ans, réalisant ainsi le suffrage universel complet au Royaume-Uni. Le Representation of the People Act de 1918 est donc un jalon important dans l'histoire de la démocratisation et de l'égalité des droits au Royaume-Uni.

[r2x2]

LOL at TERFs wearing the colors of the WSPU while clutching their pearls when a trans woman jokes about punching them.

[lesbiansandgayssupporttheminers]

We all agree the Suffragettes were in the right, right?

We all respect the Suffragettes, yeah?

But how much do you know about their methods?

We’ve heard about the hunger strikes, and Emily Davidson being killed by a horse, but why were the suffragettes being arrested anyway?

Did you know that the WSPU engaged in campaigns of property damage, and assaulting politicians?

Did you know that Emily Davidson was an arsonist and prior to her death was arrested for attempting to set fire to a post office?

Did you know that by 1912-1913, suffragettes were using IEDs to target politicians, including Lloyd George?

The WSPU was considered a terrorist organisation.

My point is that we basically all accept the suffragettes were in the right and thus history has largely erased their more militant actions. Your rights weren’t necessarily won by peaceful protest. In some cases, the fight was violent. So don’t feel obliged to be peaceful.

Sometimes, violence is needed to get things done.

[fuzzysparrow]

The General

Nicknamed “The General” for leading Women’s Rights marches while wearing a military-style uniform complete with an officer’s cap and epaulettes, Flora Drummond is one of 59 women listed on the plinth of the Millicent Fawcett statue in Parliament Square, London. Often seen on horseback, Drummond helped organise the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) and earned a reputation for her ability…

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[cobieunit2blog]

The Suffragettes

Meet Ethel Smyth, the 20th-century composer who was also a suffragette and political activist

Ethel Smyth was born in 1858 and rose to become one of the most prominent composers of the time – as well as a leading figure in the movemen

Who were the Suffragettes?

Find out all the fascinating facts about who the Suffragettes were, what they did and what they achieved in this introductory article. Explo

References:

British Pathe (2014) Various suffragettes material, YouTube. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Vui9QDiV1k (Accessed: January 4, 2023).

Channel4News (2018) Suffragettes vs suffragists: Did violent protest get women the vote?, YouTube. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pw0IAFIhVfA (Accessed: January 4, 2023).

Davis, L. (2021) Meet Ethel Smyth, Classic FM. Available at: https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/suffragette-ethel-smyth/ (Accessed: January 4, 2023).

TheGuardian (2013) Suffragette Emily Davison knocked down by king's horse at epsom, YouTube. YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qkU_imbFoE (Accessed: January 4, 2023).

Who were the suffragettes? (2021) Museum of London. Available at: https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/museum-london/explore/who-were-suffragettes (Accessed: January 4, 2023).

[queerwelsh]

The Welsh suffragette Rachel Barrett was born on the 12th of November, 1874, in Carmarthen, to Welsh-speaking parents. She grew up in Llandeilo then was educated at a boarding school in Stroud and at Aberystwyth University. After graduating with a BSc degree, Rachel became a science teacher, working in Llangefni and Penarth.

2 years after graduating, Rachel joined the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), after attending a suffrage rally in Cardiff. She worked with Adela Pankhurst in Cardiff and Barry, speaking at WSPU meetings herself as well, often in Welsh. Rachel's headmistress disapproved of these activities, especially when Rachel was flour-bombed with Adela in Cardiff Bay. So, Rachel left her teaching job in 1907 and attended London School of Economics, becoming more involved at WSPU's headquarters in London. Aftet she was asked by Christabel Pabkhurst, Rachel left her studies to become a full-time organiser for WSPU, noting "it was a definite call and I obeyed." By the end of 1910, Rachel especially promoted WSPU's activities around Wales, as chief WSPU organiser for Wales, once coming up against David Lloyd George in a 2 hour meeting with him.

In 1912, Rachel became assistant editor of The Suffragette, which was edited by Christabel Pankhurst. Through The Suffragette, Rachel met the writer I.A.R Wylie (Ida Wylie), who she began a relationship with. I.A.R. Wylie is thought to have been a lesbian, also having relationships with other women, such as physician Sara Josephine Baker, and writing in her autobiography, "I have always liked women better than men."

When The Suffragette offices were raided, Rachel received a 9 months imprisonment sentence at Holloway Prison. After a hunger strike, she was force-fed and released under the 'Cat and Mouse Act,' but she was rearrested later nore than once, and force-fed again, afterwards being cared for by sympathisers such as Ida Wylie. By 1920, after travelling together, they had moved together to Edinburgh. Rachel continued to edit The Suffragette until the First World War, following which she campaigned for full emancipation. In 1928, Rachel and Ida supported Radclyffe Hall and Una Troubridge during the Well of Loneliness trial.

Rachel died on the 26th of August, 1953. She left her cottage to her niece Gwyneth Anderson, and the remainder of her state to Ida Wylie, who died in 1979.