The Suffragette Movement

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First off, during World War One and in the 1920s, women did not have political/voting rights and were treated unfairly when it came to politics and the government. When World War One broke out, women’s roles changed from mothers to factory workers. War was considered more important than anything else and gender did not matter. The campaign for women’s suffrage closed out aggressive activities and the suffragettes agreed to help with the war. Women’s suffrage was an issue during World War One, and this kept women from being able to vote. During 1914, The Suffragette Movement happened—this was when suffragists worked hard to convince men in the government to give women their voting rights (Stearman 10). James F. McMillan states in his book “The Coming of Women’s Suffrage”: “By identifying with the state, feminists could hope that the state would identify with women and recognize their rights in the public sphere” (McMillan 25 April 2014). Eventually, the rights in politics for women started to evolve. In 1917 to 1919, voting rights for women evolved. Starting in 1917, voting rights were only given to nurses. In 1918, they were given to females of relative soldiers and those involved in conscription. In 1919, voting was given to all women and the amendment passed through the Senate (Stearman 18). During this time period, 8.5 million women were granted the power of voting—this was 40% of the total number of women (Sungrab 10 April 2014). Voting should be universal and should not discriminate anyone because of gender. Women worked hard to achieve their goal: by protesting in parades, campaigning with posters and asking the government to give them their rights not just as women, but as humans. Welfare, benefits, voting and healthcare we... ... middle of paper ... ...r. This proves that in the years 1914 to 1918 and in the 1920s, women were treated unfairly and were not recognized for their work and their gratitude. They were expected to do twice as much as men, in half the time, and for no credit. World War One was a huge turning point for Women. The brave soldiers will always be remembered, but we will also never forget the huge turning point the war held for women back then, now and in the future. It is interesting to know about women during this time period, and how much they have evolved and grown; from having no rights to equal rights, no pay to high pay. Women are just as equal as men, and World War One is just one of their many milestones. The First World War gave women the ability to show men that they were, and still are, just as equal. Here is to strong women. May we know them, may we be them, and may we raise them.

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