The Suffragettes
February 6th 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the acceptance of women's voting rights in England. The women’s organization; the Suffragettes changed history by fearlessly protesting for women’s rights and the right to vote.
This organization not only pushed for the right to vote in England, but also inspired women across Europe and the rest of the Western world to strive for equality.
Although the suffragettes changed the lives of millions of women in the early 20th century, they weren’t the women at the core of the suffrage movement. In fact, the origins of the movement go back to 1866 when 1,500 women across England signed a petition demanding the same political rights as men. The failure to pass the amendment motivated more women to join the cause and eventually start the suffragettes organization.
There were several history-changing women participating in this movement and that pushed the English government to give women the vote. Notably, the leader of the suffragettes movement in England; Emmeline Pankhurst.
Pankhurst is today classified as 1 of the 100 most influential women of the 20th century according to ‘Time’. Another woman recognized for her contribution to the movement was Emily Davison.
Davison was an Oxford-educated member of Women’s Social and Political Union, she was arrested 9 times, went on hunger strike 7 times and was force-fed 49 times until she eventually gave her life for the cause by walking across a race track and being hit and killed by King George’s horse.
Thanks to these women’s contribution and actions for women’s rights, women today still continue to advance in the fight for get equal rights in educational, social and economical life.
Although these women represent a major historical landmark for equal rights, issues still need to be resolved. In the United States alone, women are still being paid 18.88% less than men according to a 2015 statistical study and taking into account that these numbers vary depending on race, religion and age, there are still actions to be taken, not only socially, but also governmentally so as to reach true equality.
However, women and men are forever appreciative and grateful to the brave women who gave their lives to what seemed like a helpless cause. They’ve not only obtained women’s right to vote with their actions but also gave the necessary courage to millions of women to stand up and demand equality in the workplace, and in their personal lives.
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