Women's Failure to Gain the Vote Between 1900-1914

Women's Failure to Gain the Vote Between 1900-1914

There are many reasons why women failed to gain the right to vote

between 1900 and 1914, these different reasons did not just appear

overnight some were had been institutionalised into the very core of

British society over a great length of time. The other reasons were

public responses to, the then, recent actions of the groups looking to

gain the vote for women.

For the purpose of this coursework I will separate these reasons into

three major factors that explain why women failed to gain the vote

between 1900 and 1914.

1. Long-term factors:

First I am going to study the long-term causes, as it is with these

that the climate of the situation at the time in question can be

viewed in its entirety. At the start of the 20th century Britain was a

patriarchal society, one dominated by males with women considered as

lower class citizens. Most women were seen as their husbands’ property

and were there to meet all their requirements, these requirements

included doing all domestic work, bringing up any children they may

have and being there to please them sexually.

Another long-term reason that caused those who wished to have the vote

for women an uphill struggle was the general consensus, in the

government, that women did not deserve the vote or in fact want the

vote. This particular view would prove to be a very stubborn obstacle

for those who would want the vote for women, as it was sexism at its

most institutionalised. Also there was no major request for change

within the country before 1900, the country was in a good period of

stability, the empire was at its strongest and ...

... middle of paper ...

... This is what they

had campaigned for, for so long.

· 1930-It was the first time that contraception advice was given to

women.

This shows that things were changing in the favour of women in Britain.

Overall I think that the war had a major affect on the role and status

of women. It may not have been instant but it set the grounding for

everything to come. It showed to all the men in the country that they

were just as good as them and should be given the same opportunities

and respect from them.

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§ Lloyd-George and a group of Liberal MPs believed they had no choice

but to concentrate all efforts on winning the war, even if it meant

acting ‘illiberally’. They soon lost confidence in Asquith’s

leadership because of his inefficiency.