Women and Politics Flashcards
(13 cards)
Arguments for and against women’s suffrage
✓ Women are equal to men
✓ Little done for women in the law
✓ Children’s laws should be from a mothers POV aswell
✓ Can’t satisfy females without females
x Women are physically different
x Emotional and can’t make sound decisions
x Women’s wishes are fine in male hands
x The current system works so why change it
Describe the Suffragists
- Lead by Millicent Fawcett
- Moderate and law abiding
- Founded the NUWSS in 1897
Describe the Suffragettes
- Lead by Emmeline Pankhurst
- Founded the WSPU in 1903
- Christabel in prison in 1908 for refusing peace
- Sylvia believed union should expand beyond feminism
What did the Suffragettes do to attract attention?
- Graffiti slogans
- Pour acid on gold courses
- Chain themselves onto railings
- Bomb empty buildings
- Blow up post boxes
Name the key events in the suffrage campaign
- 1908 112 arrested in Parliament Square
- 1909 women rioted after meeting with Asquith. When denied the status of ‘political prisoner’ they went on hunger strike
- 1910 Committee set up then supended. Riot became known as Black Friday
- 1911 More men given the vote an truce ended
- 1913 The Temporary Discharge for Ill Health Act (Cat and Mouse Act)
- 4th June 1913 Emily Davidson died
How did WW1 affect campaigns?
- Both groups suspended their campaigns
- Suffragists divided because of pacifism
- Suffragettes demanded work
- 1915 30,000 stike in London to work
Describe the vote acts and their affects
- 1918 Representation of the People Act: Laws changed so that returning men could vote. Women above 30 who were householders or wives to vote. The idea was that wives would listen to their husbands, not form a majority and less likely to be rabid feminists.
- 1928: Equal Franchise Act: Women able to vote on same terms as men. Anyone above the age of 21.
- 2 to 15 women got Parliament seats despite making up 50% of the electorate. They got equal rights in divorce cases, gaining high posts in civil service, allowance and inheritance.
Name some women MPs
- Constance Markevicz elected but in prison so no seat
- Lady Astor first woman to sit in Commons
- Eleanor Rathbone supported women especially in Family Allowance
Describe the growth of 60s feminism
- 1969 There were 70 women liberation groups in London
- 1970 Women’s groups held the first Women’s Liberation Conference
- Women demanded, equal pay, equal education opportunities, 24 hour nurseries, free abortion and contraception, independence from husbands, equal divorce laws and increased representation in Parliament
- 1975 National Women’s Year
- 1979 First female PM
Describe the acts of one women liberation group
- The Greenham Common Women were against American Missile bases being on UK soil
- They would hold vigils, sing, fence cut and graffiti
Describe the legislations that led to women’s equality
- Equal Pay Act 1970: Women deserve equal pay as men for same work. 1968 Ford factory strike women paid 55% less than men. People got around this by changing job titles and giving lowest male pay
- Sex Discrimination Act 1975: Illegal to discriminate against women in employment, housing, training and provision of goods
- Equal Opportunities Commission 1975: Seperate boy to promote equality. They made changes like: don’t need the husbands name, no signature needed, separate tax returns and seperate homes.
State of Parliament today
- Nearly 25% MPs are women
- Half of the under 30 MPs are women
- Only 7/40 Welsh MPs are women
State of Welsh Assembly Government
- First 1999 election 40% of seats went to women
- Since then the number rose and stays around 50%
- Labour party shortlists all women
- WAG has family friendly hours and provide childcare in outofhour meetings.
