Development of the Campaign for Women’s Suffrage

Development of the Campaign for Women’s Suffrage

In 1870 neither working nor middle class women were recognised by the

law and regarded the property of men whether it were their husband,

father or brother. In 1773, Mary Wollstonecraft argued that women were

kept child like within the family, uneducated and denied the right to

shoulder responsibility. If for any reason a couple divorced, the

women would be left with nothing as women had no legal existence.

Working class women worked long hours in poor paid high health risk

jobs, and were still expected to go home and carry out house chores.

On the other hand, middle class women were expected to be a good

housewife and produce heirs. They were seen as failures if they did

not commit to these. Either way both classes wanted equal rights and

more freedom.

Cheltenham Ladies College, CheltenhamLater on, in the next twenty

years, the situation of women would improve slightly. In 1873 the

infant custody act was passed which allowed a divorced mother to apply

for custody of her children over seven after her husband’s conviction

for adultery. In the years 1882 and 1883, the Married Women’s Property

Act was granted, allowing women full legal control of all property

owned at marriage, while they were married through their own earning

and through inheritance. New job opportunities were opened up such as

teaching and a majority of girls were receiving better pay and higher

status than that of their parents. In 1870 the education act was

passed which made it compulsory for children to attend primary

schools. Cheltenham’s ladies college was founded in 1841, which later

became very highly regarded.

Despite this, very few people were entitled to vote. However, slowly

measures were being introduced to allow more people this right. In

1894, an act which allowed women rate payers and property occupiers to

vote in local elections was passed. They were also able to stand these

for elections in urban, rural district and parish elections.

Furthermore, there was also pressure from women in New Zealand, a