Women's Right to Vote due to Their Contribution to the War Effort In 1918 a major milestone was reached in the fight for women's equality rights, this was women being granted suffrage by the government. During the physical endurance of the four years of the war, women proving themselves equal to men, they were rewarded the vote. The Electoral Reform bill was passed which granted voting rights to all female property owners over 30. Some historians say women were never given the vote; it was hard fought for and won. Many historians believe the war to be a turning point because not only did it seal women's victory over the government it secured their status in society as an equivalent to men. Women's emancipation came in three stages: the first was the long campaign of propaganda and organisation led by the dame Millicent Fawcett, the second was militant campaign of the suffragettes, and the third was the war. Had there been no war, the emancipation would have come, although more slowly. Therefore the war was not the most significant factor which led to the franchise. Other factors were far more important, such as the suffrage movement and other reasons. Thus the war was a catalyst in which eventually the government was forced to give women the vote. The suffrage movement was far more superior in gaining the vote for women because it led the way for the emancipation. In the 1900's the philosophy of separate spheres was so strong it dictated how women were treated. Women were seen as the underlings, the inferior sex in society. Their domestic sphere was a cultural expression of the female world a way of living. The overall role and ... ... middle of paper ... ... faithful preparations of the ground over, many years and the militant campaigners revolutionising the stereotyped image of women, the war alone would not have produced the crop.. The suffrage movement was a combination of the peaceful methods of the suffragists and the militant methods of the suffragettes. Without one another the full effects would not have been gained. The suffragists produced the foundation in which the suffragettes built upon using modernised and radical methods. Without the militancy the suffrage would have been simply ignored, also if there was no foundation the suffrage would not have begun in the first place. Whist there was a common enemy women and men united in Britain's hour of need. 1916 Glasgow Herald 'If victory was to be won men could not afford to hem women with the old restrictions.'
...uline spinsters. Other issues the government were attempting to resolve stood in the way of women’s suffrage because they were seen as simply more important than a group of women fighting for the vote. The war may have accelerated or slowed women’s enfranchisement: accelerated due to the war effort contributed from the Suffragettes, slowed because the conciliation bills were already being discussed and proposed before the start of the war. None of these reasons can be cited as a main reason due to arguments between historians over which was most obstructive in the fight for the women’s vote. In conclusion, as there were discussions over the womens’ enfranchisement before 1914 the war almost certainly delayed women getting the vote but the ceasefire of the Suffragettes contributed to a more positive image of women which had been eradicated by their earlier exploits.
As the 19th century progressed, women were quite successful as they were able to get the civil rights such as to vote in local elections. However, some women wanted the right to vote in parliamentary elections. These women joined a campaign called the suffrage movement. I will explain all the factors of why women didn’t gain the right to vote before 1914 in this essay.
during the First World War, but now they had seen a new way to go
Women’s suffrage was a defining moment for Canada because women made up approximately half the Canadian population. By giving them the right to vote, it allowed Canada to be a more democratic country. Women getting the right to vote had a huge impact on the election of 1917 because women who were married to soldiers in the war could vote because of the War time Elections Act. It was also a big step for women to get involved more in the society during World War 1. In addition, the women contributed in the war effort a lot by making the products sent over seas to our soldiers, who had left their jobs to fight for their country in World War 1. This also was creating other opportunities for the women to get involved with society by taking the men’s places in the factories.
Through the history, women have always fought for their rights creating a new space for their participation as citizens. After the First World War during the 1920s and 1930s new histories of women suffragettes have been written. During that period of time some activist groups were created, for instance, the Edwardian women’s suffrage movement that created in women a ‘Suffragette Spirit’ with the same goals and purposes even with the same militant procedures such as radical feminism that involved hunger strike and forcible feeding. This argument have become controversial due to different points of view in recent years. Another samples are the formation of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), a group led by Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst under an autocratic system; Women’s Freedom League (WFL), a self-proclaimed militant organization and National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS). These groups were formed in Britain giving way to creation of some texts that explain the actions of the feminist groups and were the basis to achieve the right of suffragettes. Furthermore, the author of this article talks about a second narrative published in 1914 by Constance Lytton that explain about her own experiences in a militant period and personal sacrifice in an attempt to vote. Finally, her experience of militancy had become the archetype of suffrage militancy. In addition, she became in a feminist and kept touch with important members of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU). According to Lytton (cited in Mayhall, 1995: 326) She said that whilst she felt sympathy towards men, children and even animals – those that she said were ‘down-trodden’ – she had completely ‘been blind to the particular sufferings ...
... to stop in order to help their country flight the war. They understand they needed to helping on the home front and this was the time for them to step up and show the British Parliament how valuable they are to their country. Lobbying did take place quietly, some women suffrage groups saw this time for to show they can do the same jobs as men and contribute to the war efforts. In 1918 passed the Representation of the People Act and enfranchising women over the age of 30 who meet property qualifications. This act was the stating of women gaining equality to men. Even though, women had to meet qualifications to vote, it was a start in changing society view on women’s rights. In 1928, ten year after the Representation of the People Act, the Conservative government passed the Representation of the People Act finally giving women vote right to all over the age of 21.
After reading Francis Parkman's article, "Women Are Unfit to Vote", I found myself both offended and annoyed. His arguments were not only shaky, but they were also illogical. He states that the family has been the political unit; consequently, the head of the family should be the political representative. He goes on by stating that women have shared imperfectly in the traditions and not in the practice of self-government. Lastly, he suggests women might vote that men should go off and fight in war. Not only are these statements wrong, but they are very much so offensive. Women are humans, too, and they should be treated how a man is treated. We are, after all, of an equal race, so why do we women not get the right to vote? In my opinion,this question cannot be answered logically. Many reasons can contradict Parkman's statements included in his article, and I plan to do so.
The Effect of the First World War on Women's Rights By 1918, when the war had ended, there had been a change of attitude towards women and the right to vote. The Representation of the People Act gave the vote to some women, and before the war, all attempts by the women's movement to get the vote passed through Parliament had failed. Therefore, the work done by women in the war (1914-1918) proved to be very important in bringing about the change of attitudes towards women and allowing some to vote. The work done by women in the war was a short-term reason. Attitudes towards women and giving them the vote had been changing for a long time before this.
Although they were fighting for a worthy cause, many did not agree with these women’s radical views. These conservative thinkers caused a great road-block on the way to enfranchisement. Most of them were men, who were set in their thoughts about women’s roles, who couldn’t understand why a woman would deserve to vote, let alone want to vote. But there were also many women who were not concerned with their fundamental right to vote. Because some women were indifferent in regards to suffrage, they set back those who were working towards the greater good of the nation. However, the suffragettes were able to overcome these obstacles by altering their tactics, while still maintaining their objective.
Women had an arduous time trying to demand the rights they deserved to have. Women suffragist made associations and paraded down the street to endeavor rights. Two associations were made up, the National Woman Suffrage Association and the American Women Suffrage Association. The National Women Suffrage Association is also known as NWSA was developed by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. This association work for suffrage at the federal level. They tried press for more extensive institutional changes, such as married women being granted right to own land. The American Women Suffrage Association is also known as AWSA was developed by Lucy Stone and Julia Ward Howe. This association aimed to secure the ballot through state legislation. The ladies at NWSA refused to endorse the amendment because it did not give women the ballot. However the ladies at AWSA argued that once the black man was enfranchised, women would achieve their goal.(Buechler) With making associations, suffragist would march together in a parade down streets. All women who believed in the women’s suffrage movement came together, not caring what class each other are in since the demands were the same for all who marched. The intent of the parades were to dazzle and impress observers and gain recruiters, as well grab the attention of legislators who ignore the suffragist petitions and dispel unfav...
Throughout history women have often, if not always, been second-best to men. Women have frequently been denied the rights and opportunities that men have had. For years a women’s only role was to stay home and care for the family. This belief became widely popular in the “cult of domesticity” movement in the 1800’s. The cult of domesticity was the belief that women should stay home as ‘moral guardians’ of family life. They were expected to be weak, nurturing, and selfless (2). Many women opposed this belief, and started to fight for equality. The Women’s suffrage movement helped bring many changes to society’s view of women and their rights.
It was not until the year 1920 that women in the United States of America gained the right to vote. Yet, American women always believed they were equal to the average American man; the government, including the president and lawmakers did not have the same beliefs as these women. Female civilians tried for many years to gain basic rights of any American citizen. Women’s rights were very hard to obtain, which led to a long and strong fight to achieve minimal rights. Three very important women who really made the American government realize women deserved the right to vote were Alice Paul, Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. These three women worked individually with different tactics to help American women achieve basic human rights, including the right to vote.
In conclusion I would have to disagree with the statement in the question, because women have obviously tried in a variety of ways to make sure they could get the vote. The war was definitely a stepping stone towards the final goal of female suffrage, but it was not the only reason.
Women's suffrage refers to the right of women to participate in democratic processes through voting on the same basis as men. In the medieval and early modern periods in Europe, the right to vote was typically severely limited for all people by factors such as age, ownership of property, and gender. The development of the modern democratic state has been characterized internationally by the erosion of these various limitations following periods of collective struggle. Women's suffrage has been achieved as part of this process of modernization at different times in different national contexts, although very few nations granted women the right to vote in elections before the twentieth century (Freedman, pp. 63).
... not even imagine few years ago have been made. The year 1914 can be marked as a revolutionary for the liberalizing of the position of women within the society. But their privileges were limited and would fade away with the end of the war. Because the truth is that most of them would not have to be made. If the war did never happened, women would not have to replace man on their working positions. That is something that came naturally with the war situation. Why did suffrage succeeded after the World War I and not before? It might be because they got finally the right chance to show, that they are strong enough, but the main reason was that on the first place they became very useful for the society not only in the field of domestic service. And finally the World War one transformed women as a human-beings. Their lives turned upside down and never were the same.