Around the mid-1920s the lack of visible progress towards reform had begun to produce tension between the women's societies. (3) (p 77).
Thus leading into uncertainty about the government's position contributed to tensions within the women's groups as to what they should demand. At the Consultative Committee's October 1926 the women's societies disagreed over how they should respond if the government did proceed to set up a franchise conference.
Additional struggles between women's societies and it's members was the ideology. For the Pankhurst women it was either anti-male as Christabel and somewhat Emmeline believed or as Sylvia stood for passive and for the cause of women's rights in general. (3) (p 78).
Although these women had struggles within the societies and the organizations them selves they still fought for women's rights bringing them back together upon one common ground.
Thus leading into uncertainty about the government's position contributed to tensions within the women's groups as to what they should demand. At the Consultative Committee's October 1926 the women's societies disagreed over how they should respond if the government did proceed to set up a franchise conference.
Additional struggles between women's societies and it's members was the ideology. For the Pankhurst women it was either anti-male as Christabel and somewhat Emmeline believed or as Sylvia stood for passive and for the cause of women's rights in general. (3) (p 78).
Although these women had struggles within the societies and the organizations them selves they still fought for women's rights bringing them back together upon one common ground.
Emmeline Pankhurst (1858-1928)
Daughters: Christabel Pankhurst &
Sylvia Pankhurst
Founder of the WSPU in 1903.
Emmeline was repeatedly imprisoned during the suffrage campaign, inspiring several women to join the suffrage movement by her willingness to sacrifice her life if necessary for the cause (3) (p 108).
E. Pankhurst attempted to persuade the National Administrative Council (Independent Labour Party) to persuade it to support votes for women on the same terms that men had. (3). (p 29)
Following the split of Sylvia Pankhurst from WSPU, the authority within WSPU became more centralized.
Emmeline Pankhurst remained the official leader of the WSPU, but became less interested in the daily administration and WSPU policy. (3)
Daughters: Christabel Pankhurst &
Sylvia Pankhurst
Founder of the WSPU in 1903.
Emmeline was repeatedly imprisoned during the suffrage campaign, inspiring several women to join the suffrage movement by her willingness to sacrifice her life if necessary for the cause (3) (p 108).
E. Pankhurst attempted to persuade the National Administrative Council (Independent Labour Party) to persuade it to support votes for women on the same terms that men had. (3). (p 29)
Following the split of Sylvia Pankhurst from WSPU, the authority within WSPU became more centralized.
Emmeline Pankhurst remained the official leader of the WSPU, but became less interested in the daily administration and WSPU policy. (3)
Christabel Pankhurst
Eldest daughter of Emmeline, as well as one of the earliest members of the WSPU. Later introducing militant methods within the WSPU. After 1907 Christabel and her mother. Emmeline emerged as the dominant figures within the WSPU.
Christabel Pankhurst claimed that, "male objections to women's suffrage reflected a concern that it would end their sexual exploitation of women. Men feared that if women had the vote they would have the power to end prostitution and the sexual abuse of women." (3) (p 39) C. Pankhurst went on to claim that 75-80% of men were infected with venereal disease before marriage... concluding that women should avoid sexual relations with men.
C. Pankhurst portrayed the women's suffrage movement as a revolt against the system... where women were treated as "sex slaves of men" and demanded:
"Votes for women and chasity for men." (3) (p 39).
Eldest daughter of Emmeline, as well as one of the earliest members of the WSPU. Later introducing militant methods within the WSPU. After 1907 Christabel and her mother. Emmeline emerged as the dominant figures within the WSPU.
Christabel Pankhurst claimed that, "male objections to women's suffrage reflected a concern that it would end their sexual exploitation of women. Men feared that if women had the vote they would have the power to end prostitution and the sexual abuse of women." (3) (p 39) C. Pankhurst went on to claim that 75-80% of men were infected with venereal disease before marriage... concluding that women should avoid sexual relations with men.
C. Pankhurst portrayed the women's suffrage movement as a revolt against the system... where women were treated as "sex slaves of men" and demanded:
"Votes for women and chasity for men." (3) (p 39).
- Sylvia Pankhurst (1882-1960)
After this split, Silvia then formed her own organization, the East London Federation of the Suffragettes. (3) (p 108)
S. Pankhurst was reportedly force fed while in prison, during her struggle for female suffrage. Although not as horrendously force fed as others for the Women's suffrage movement S. Pankhurst still suffered for her stance for the movement.
Committed socialist and saw the struggle for women's rights as a broader campaign for socialist society.
S. Pankhurst claimed that the 1928 Representation of the People Act came "virtually without effort" as her assumption that it was inevitable and was accomplished with little struggle... was widely accepted. (3) (p 70).
- Esther Roper
Was responsible for recruiting working-class women into the suffrage movement.
This was at a time when its members were mainly middle- and upper-class women. (3) (p 108)
Esther Roper is imporant in connecting Christabel Pankhurst to a new way of the Women's Suffrage movement, although not a big, standout women through the movement Roper contributed when and where she could... in that way was working with C. Pankhurst.
- Annie Kenney
Helped Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst start the WSPU in 1903.
Working class women, which was very rare at the time for a women of her class to fight for women's rights.
Began work in the mills at age 10.
Kenney also became very anti-male, similar to C. Pankhurst as well as very militant in ideas.
(3) (p 19)
Rumors circulated that Kenney had relationships with some of the suffragettes including C. Pankhurst.
Millicent Garrett Fawcett
Although she did not publicly criticize the WSPU and it's militant methods she insisted that the NUWSS rely on constitutional methods.
Fawcett did not believe in sex-war waged by women who would were focused on women only memberships.
Millicent also believed WSPU militancy after 1910 was undermining the NUWSS's efforts to win converts to the suffrage cause.
"Millicent Fawcett found it illogical that voting should be considered a threat to women's femininity but that working for male candidates in parliamentary elections was considered acceptable." (3) (p 87).
- Elizabeth Garret Anderson (Daughter)
- Henry Fawcett (Husband)
Although she did not publicly criticize the WSPU and it's militant methods she insisted that the NUWSS rely on constitutional methods.
Fawcett did not believe in sex-war waged by women who would were focused on women only memberships.
Millicent also believed WSPU militancy after 1910 was undermining the NUWSS's efforts to win converts to the suffrage cause.
"Millicent Fawcett found it illogical that voting should be considered a threat to women's femininity but that working for male candidates in parliamentary elections was considered acceptable." (3) (p 87).
Emily Wilding Davison
(1872-1913)
Very militant
Member of WSPU, joined in 1906
Imprisoned for various offenses about 9 times
In 1912, sentenced to 6 months in Holloway prison for setting fire to a pillar box, and was force-fed after she went on a hunger strike.
Force Fed varying times during her stay in prison. (4)
June 4th 1913
Collided with the kings horse, died 4 days later from a fractured skull and several internal injuries.
Gave the cause something more to fight for after her death... becoming a martyr.
Fellow WSPU members gave Davison a martyr funeral attracting thousands of sympathizers.
Early Years: Emily Davison gained a first-class honours in English at Oxford University, unfortunately
degrees were closed to women and she could not graduate. (4)
Pankhurst's found Emily Davison to be too radical with her stances and fighting, they found that she was to out of control for her. (3) (p 34)
Davison was known for her "apocalyptic, dark, dangerous and extreme writing styles." (4)
(1872-1913)
Very militant
Member of WSPU, joined in 1906
Imprisoned for various offenses about 9 times
In 1912, sentenced to 6 months in Holloway prison for setting fire to a pillar box, and was force-fed after she went on a hunger strike.
Force Fed varying times during her stay in prison. (4)
June 4th 1913
Collided with the kings horse, died 4 days later from a fractured skull and several internal injuries.
Gave the cause something more to fight for after her death... becoming a martyr.
Fellow WSPU members gave Davison a martyr funeral attracting thousands of sympathizers.
Early Years: Emily Davison gained a first-class honours in English at Oxford University, unfortunately
degrees were closed to women and she could not graduate. (4)
Pankhurst's found Emily Davison to be too radical with her stances and fighting, they found that she was to out of control for her. (3) (p 34)
Davison was known for her "apocalyptic, dark, dangerous and extreme writing styles." (4)