Votes for women, 1900-1918

1. Votes for women, 1900-1918 Richard Fitzsimmons Strathallan School

2. In the following lesson you will learn … • About the status of women at the beginning of the 20th Century, and how things changed … • The arguments for and against women having the vote… • The activities and methods of the Suffragists and Suffragettes …

3. The status of women before 1900 … • Before 1870 most working-class girls did not go to school, their duty was to obey their husband and do everything to make sure his life was as easy as possible. Any girl’s education reinforced this view • Occupations open to women were mainly menial – domestic servants, small workshops, sewing, textile factories, working at home • By the start of the 20th C, other opportunities were opening up for women …

4. Further work opportunities … • Jobs in shops, as typists, on telephone switchboards but … • Hours were long (as much as 80 per week) • Women often had to leave if they got married • Women were often paid a great deal less than men doing similar jobs

5. In 1870s Sophia Jex-Blake completed a medical degree at Edinburgh University, but was refused her degree ! Her case caused some Universities to change their attitude to women – Oxford and Cambridge opened Women’s colleges, there were also some teacher training colleges opened … Teaching – female teachers had to be single Nursing – but had to resign when they married Clerical work - answering telephones and typing … New employment opportunities were opening up for middle-class women, who may have at least had some education at home, or been lucky enough to have had some schooling … discrimination was still possible

6. when they married all their property went to their husbands; even they became their husband’s property ! Wives were often treated with violence and assaulted by husbands Women could not start divorce proceedings By 1900 women could bring divorce cases against their husbands for cruelty, desertion and bigamy They could keep their own property after marriage Women could leave the marital home voluntarily if in danger In marriages, women were in a very inferior position to their husbands …

7. But, some things did not change… • Wife-battering and marital sexual assaults were still legal • Husbands could divorce wives for adultery, but wives would have to prove violence or cruelty in similar cases • If a divorce occurred, a mother would lose her rights over her children

8. Summary … • Women were stopped from entering many professions, despite the improvement in their educational position by 1900 • Women were still regarded as inferior to men • The law was still biased in favour of men • The pace of social change was slow

9. Change was finally on the way … • In the 19th Century, women had not been allowed to vote in parliamentary elections, or be MPs • By 1900 ‘votes for women’ was becoming an important issue, and arguments were being advanced for and against the idea • Two groups campaigned for votes – the NUWSS (National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies) and the WSPU (Women’s Social and Political Union)

10. Focus … on the NUWSS • Founded in 1897 by Millicent Fawcett • Brought together a series of disparate groups, all with the same objective • By 1914, over 400 branches all over the country, over 100000 members • Democratic organisation which used peaceful means such as discussion and persuasion • Members were mainly middle-class and working- class, and some men were allowed to join

11. Focus … on the WSPU • Founded by Emmeline Pankhurst and her two daughters Christabel and Sylvia in 1903 • Branches all over the country, but this was not a democratic organisation – it was closely controlled by the Pankhursts • Formed because they were impatient with the peaceful, and slow methods of the NUWSS • Often used violent and abusive methods, many members went to prison for their actions • Men were not allowed to join; members were mainly middle and upper-class women

12. Arguments supporting votes for women … • The vote is the way to get rid of other inequalities • The vote will improve men’s moral and sexual behaviour • Women are capable of being involved in politics • There have been many changes in women’s roles • Look at what is happening in other countries • Voting is a ‘right’ to which women are entitled • Britain is not a true democracy until women have the vote

13. Arguments opposing votes for women … • Women and men have ‘separate spheres’ • Most women do not want the vote • ‘A woman’s role is in local affairs’ • Women are already represented by their husbands • It is dangerous to change a system that works • Women do not fight to defend their country

14. Propaganda – the WSPU published a newspaper called Votes for Women – circulation of 40,000 by 1914 Pin badges, belts, jewellery Posters, leaflets, postcards Meetings and demonstrations all over Britain, some attracted 20,000 women Lobbying Parliament – petitions and letters - in 1910 one gained over 250,000 signatures Civil disobedience – refusal to pay taxes etc Attacking property – window smashing, arson, bombs, works of art in galleries, telegraph lines were cut, recreational parks were vandalised Methods used to win the vote …

15. Attacks on prominent people – doctors who force-fed suffragettes in prison Axe thrown at the Prime Minister Heckling politicians at meetings Disrupting political meetings with publicity stunts such as abseiling into a Liberal Party meeting Hunger strikes – began in 1909 as a way of forcing the authorities to recognise suffragettes prisoners as political prisoners The authorities decided to force-feed some of them. Some suffragettes barricaded themselves in their cells to avoid this The government hit back with the ‘Cat and Mouse Act’ Methods used to win the vote …

16. How did women win the vote ? • By 1916 many men who were eligible to vote had lost that right as they were out of the country for more than a year • The NUWSS put pressure on the government to consider giving women the vote • In 1917 the House of Commons voted by 385-55 that women should have the vote. • In February 1918 the Bill became law

17. What did the Bill say ? The Bill said that … • women over the age of 30 could have the vote • Women over 30 could become MPs • All men over 21 were given the vote • Out of an electorate of 21 million, some 8 million were now women, though there was still no proper equality … it was believed that younger women might not be responsible enough to exercise their vote, and the government was worried in case there were more women voters than men …