Emmeline Pankhurst Women's Suffrage

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Emmeline Pankhurst was the founder of the Women’s Social and Political Union in the year of 1903. Pankhurst grew up with the influence of women’s suffrage and therefore, supplied her with the passion to develop equal right for women to vote. WSPU, also known as the Suffragettes were a militant organisation which campaigned for Women’s suffrage within the United Kingdom. Throughout history, many individuals have held differing opinions on the union having some describing them as “rebellious” while others classify them as “heroes”. One of the worst events to occur includes the massacre of “black Friday” when the suffragettes marched to parliament after the Conciliation Bill was passed however, declared a third reading would not take place. This
Emmeline, founder of the WSPU had 5 children all together and greatly influenced their outlook and perception on the world in which they lived. Historian June Purvis, a feminist supporter, states “women’s history is not just about finding women hidden in the past but about changing the way they have been traditionally represented, about letting their voice be heard” showing just and clarity that the Suffragettes movement were for the rightest cause. Women wanted to gain the right to vote like men and whether that was through military tactics or not, they were seeking equality. Emmeline often advocated the quote “deeds not words” implying that actions are what is going to make the change, nobody is going to listen to what women have to say. Due to militant actions, hundreds arrests were made thus causing for women to go on hunger strike. The hunger strike drew massive public attention as the force feeding was implement. The police would strap the women down and either force their mouth open or put a tub down their down and as far down the throat as they would and would poor liquids*. This punishment was one of the most controversial viewpoints however, seen as one of the most influential movements as the “cat and mouse” act came about; imprisoning women, hunger
Viewing the Union as a “rebellious group” and labelling them as “terrorists” are a few points this individual makes about the group. As many of the organisations tactics were military, and the rage of the 1912 third Constitutional Bill uprose war and many suffragettes fire bombed politicians houses, set churches alights and smashing windows, they were classified as a threat to natural security. Emmeline Pankhurst routed for the women to be arrested and not to just pay the fine as being arrested gained the organisation greater publicity which she sought to have been the main goal; recruit more women through acts of violence. However, Bearman, objects the idea and believes that “the suffragettes were lawless terrorists who delayed votes for women”. This comparison that Berman makes, objectifying them as being terrorists, illustrated that some of the actions that the suffragettes committed were injustice and unlawful and therefore, recruiting people through such violence was only an act an imbecile would commit, not a women gaining rights, allowing them to vote and have a voice within the

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