Would You Have Made a Good Suffragette?
Copyright July 2011 © Samantha Haupt. All rights reserved.
Have you ever heard of Millicent Fawcett or Emmeline Pankhurst? The classic film of Mary Poppins might trigger your memory. Mrs. Winifred Banks introduces her ‘Sister Suffragette’ song near the beginning of the film. When I was younger, this was one of my favorite movies, but I was never sure what a suffragette did exactly. Suffragettes were brave women who fought for women’s right to vote. You may see Mrs. Banks’ ‘VOTES for WOMEN’ sash, symbolizing the three major colors of the suffragettes: white for purity, green for hope, and purple for dignity.
1. Suffragettes in the U.K. chained themselves to parliament buildings, suffered through hunger
strikes in prison, vandalized countless public places, stood up to their husbands who demanded
they stay home, and faced public ridicule all over the country.
2. They never backed down from arguing that:
· If women obey laws, they should be a part of making those laws.
· If women pay taxes just like men, they should also have the same rights as men.
· If wealthy mistresses employed household workers who could vote, then they should be able
to as well.
3. In the U.K., they never gave up fighting for their rights, even though it took 31 years. The
movement for women to have the right to vote started in 1897 by Millicent Fawcett, who
believed in peaceful protest. As for Emmeline Pankhurst, she started her own Union in 1903 that
was prepared to use violence.
· United Kingdom - Women of property over the age of 30 gained the right to vote in 1918.
They achieved full equality regarding suffrage in 1928.
· United States – Wyoming Territory was the first legislature to grant women the right to vote
in 1869. However, it wasn’t until 1920 that the 19th Amendment to the Constitution granted
all American women that right. The Congressional Union, founded by Alice Paul and Lucy
Burns, greatly contributed to developing the 19th Amendment.
· Canada - Women could vote in federal elections regardless of the provincial laws as of 1918.
Emily Murphy and Nellie McClung were leaders of the feminist cause in Western Canada.
Personally, I believe I would have made a good suffragette if I only had to follow point #2. I’ve been told I’m very persistent when I believe in something, and argue for the right thing. I believe I could protest for a very long time. Some of the things in point #1 would be possible for me, such as standing up to my husband, or chaining myself to buildings. On the other hand, I don’t handle public ridicule too well, and I don’t think I could keep up a hunger strike!
In Mary Poppins, as Mrs. Winifred Banks sings about “political equality and equal rights with men” she also states that “our daughters’ daughters will adore us!” This statement is definitely true for me. I do adore the ‘Sister Suffragettes’ and believe that these women deserve a lot of credit for what they’ve accomplished. Without these suffragettes, girls like me wouldn’t be where we are today.
**If you are interested in visiting a historical landmark of the suffragettes, consider seeking out Millicent Fawcett Hall in Westminster, London. It was built the year of Millicent’s death in 1929, and is currently owned by Westminster School, being used as the location of their drama department.
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