Emmeline Pankhurst

women's suffrage

She led Britain's militant suffragette movement.

💡 Did you know? Pankhurst fought for over 40 years for women's suffrage: her daughters joined her in the struggle.

suffragettes

In 1903 she founded the "Women's Social and Political Union".

💡 Did you know? „Suffragette“ was originally meant as an insult: the activists proudly made the word their own.

Deeds, not words

Under the motto „Deeds not words,“ Pankhurst's comrades chose spectacular public protest over polite pleading.

💡 Did you know? After decades of vain peaceful pleas, the suffragettes turned to action.

militant protest

Emmeline Pankhurst was repeatedly arrested for it.

💡 Did you know? The suffragettes smashed shop windows, chained themselves to railings and set fires: radical means that were fiercely controversial.

hunger strike

Imprisoned suffragettes went on hunger strike; the state responded with brutal force-feeding, provoking public outrage.

💡 Did you know? The authorities responded with brutal force-feeding, provoking a public outcry.

Britain

Her movement made women's suffrage a nationwide issue.

💡 Did you know? Pankhurst was arrested repeatedly: the state released and re-arrested her in turn to avoid hunger-strike deaths.

1928 (full equal suffrage)

The first women could vote as early as 1918; full suffrage for all followed in 1928.

💡 Did you know? In 1918 British women over 30 first gained the vote; only in 1928, a few weeks after Pankhurst's death, came full equal suffrage.

First World War (women in the workforce)

This helped the first women gain the vote in 1918.

💡 Did you know? In the First World War women took over men's jobs: undercutting the argument that they were unfit for politics.

Emmeline Pankhurst

Emmeline Pankhurst (1858 to 1928) was a British activist and the most famous leader of the suffragettes in the fight for women's votes.

💡 Did you know? „Time“ magazine named Pankhurst one of the 100 most important people of the 20th century.

1858

Born: 15 July 1858 in Manchester