During our time in London, I learned a few stories about the Suffrage Movement here in Britain that did not come up in my research for my history tutorial. My favorite story was about the woman in St. Stephen's Hall in Westminster Palace.
This woman got into St. Stephen's Hall and chained herself to the statue of Lucius Cary- Viscount Falkland.("Your Paintings"). (It is hard to get a good picture of the statue because there was no photography allowed on the tour). had to break the statue to free her.The statue is still broken, the suffragettes left their militant mark on Parliament. This one woman's actions demonstrate the extreme militancy these women participated in to achieve their goal.
The belligerence that the suffragettes had to resort to in order to make their point is astounding. If the women had been "proper" and passively ask for the right to vote, it is curious to wonder if they would have gotten the right earlier or later. These women were committed to the cause and would not only go to jail for their actions, but would go on hunger strikes in jail, many coming close to death until the 'Cat and Mouse Bill' in 1913 ("Suffragettes: Prison"). This legislation freed the hunger strikers to improve their health then they would go back to jail once they were healthier.
Women over 30 won the vote in 1918, but it took until 1927 for all women over 21 to be allowed to vote (Fraser).
It is disheartening to think about how low voter turnout is because of how hard these women fought for the right to a voice. We now take that right for granted. It has not even been 100 years since women won the vote. Women died. Some of their tactics are questionable such as throwing yourself under the king's horse at the derby, but women died for this right; it is time we took full advantage of that right.
Bibliography
"Suffragettes: Prison and Hunger Strikes" Museum of London. Accessed 22 February 2013. http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/Explore-online/Pocket-histories/wc/world_city_5.htm
"Your Paintings: Lucius Cary" BBC. Public Catalogue Foundation. http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/lucius-cary-16101643-2nd-viscount-falkland-62690
Very moving story. I agree that it is absolutely astounding and inspiring to hear how these women fought to make a point and change the law.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I would say that we necessarily take that right for granted now, as exercising or not exercising a right is all part of the "freedom" that comes along with these rights.
But overall I think it is a very good thing to stop and think about what people have gone through to get us where we are and really appreciate that.
This reminds me of the quote by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich: "Well behaved women seldom make history." The story of the suffragette chaining herself to the statue intrigued me as well, and your take on it was very interesting. It brings up a question of ethics regarding what actions are "questionable" and what actions are inspiring. You asserted that the woman who threw herself under a derby horse was "questionable," but that (and I do agree) the woman who chained herself to a priceless piece of art, knowingly causing damage to it, was doing what she had to for her freedom. Is this perhaps a question of our perception of history? The suffragette chained to the statue saw quick results in progressive legislation, while history does not mark the woman at the derby as successful. They both committed brave acts to achieve the same goal, but we remember them differently.
ReplyDeleteI was also very affected by this story. Being able to see the scratch where they broke her free from the statue was incredible. The thoughts you raise in regards to this story remind me of the debate on feminism at the Oxford Union a few weeks ago. The motion was "We Are All Feminists Now," and was, I think, intended by some to be a mere commemoration of the progress of the Union, as it was held on the 50th anniversary of women being admitted to the Union. But it was an intense debate, and one side's argument was similar to your sentiment that we haven't fully realized the progress of these foundational women. I wonder, though, what the best way is for us to realize that progress? I think your idea of taking advantage of the right to vote is a great one, since it can be practiced by all kinds of women to voice their perspectives.
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