An in-depth history of the fight for women’s rights over a century in one English city. Struggle and Suffrage in Chelmsford is a comprehensive account of what life was like for women in Chelmsford, England from 1850-1950. It takes the reader on an in-depth and interesting journey, starting from when a woman, as far as both the law of the land and certain elements of society had decided, was worthless with little or no rights. With the birth of women’s suffrage movements gaining recognition on a national level during the latter years of the nineteenth century, the book looks at how this affected the lives of women throughout Chelmsford. The story continues in to the twentieth century and the years of the years of the First World War, which was without question a major turning point in women’s suffrage. The book explores what women achieved throughout the war, in the jobs they undertook and the voluntary work they carried out. It was a time that provided women with freedom and power the likes of which they’d never known before. Attitudes towards divorce and how they changed over time are also discussed—from being a religious stigma around the time of the First World War, to being a life choice in the much more promiscuous times of the Second World War, by which time latex male contraceptives had been available for about twenty years. An informative and fascinating read, Struggle and Suffrage in Chelmsford provides a compelling and moving account of the lives of the town’s women throughout this turbulent era.

While Southend-on-Sea, like many seaside towns, may not have been at the forefront of the struggle for suffrage and equal rights in the lives of women between 1850 and 1950, there are surprisingly famous names linked to the town and its women. Novelist Rebecca West, living in nearby Leigh-on-Sea during the First World War (and her lover, H.G. Wells) played a key role in the suffrage and feminist movements and in women’s entry into the scientific and literary professions. Princess Louise, a visitor to the town, was known to be a feminist, regardless of her position, and Mrs Margaret Kineton-Parkes (founder member of the Women’s Tax Resistance League and involved in the Women’s Freedom League) gave a number of talks to the town’s female population. The most high profile of local residents was Mrs Rosa Sky, the one-time Treasurer of the Women’s Social and Political Union and an active member of the Women’s Tax Resistance League, but others were quietly active behind the scenes. This book is not about the distinguished and illustrious, it is about women from all classes, from all kinds of backgrounds, who entered the world of business, who rebelled against the traditional roles of mother, homemaker or domestic servant. It is about women struggling to come to terms with changes at home, in marriage, in education, in health care and in politics. It is the first to look at these issues as they impacted on a town whose population and visitors were growing in line with the expectations of its female population.

A history of the women’s movement in Sheffield, England in the twentieth century, examining how women’s roles evolved during and between the world wars. This book looks into the role of women of Sheffield and how it has evolved from the powerlessness of a woman involved in a wife sale, to the achievement of the election of its first female Lord Mayor. Using newspapers of the period, archive material and modern photographs, Struggle and Suffrage in Sheffield examines how the role of women slowly changed in the city. It also highlights the militancy of the Sheffield suffragettes who not only organised demonstrations in Sheffield, but also sent groups to take part in some of the most notorious demonstrations in London. Following these demonstrations several local women were badly manhandled by police before being arrested and sent to Holloway Prison. Adela Pankhurst tried at first to bring the women of the Sheffield WSPU to achieve the vote through peaceful means, only when the Conciliation Bill of June 1910 was dropped, did she then encourage them to take more militant action. Following the outbreak of both world wars the women of Sheffield worked in the steelworks making munitions. They worked day and night shifts as bombs were falling about them, but when both wars ended they were abruptly dismissed, as the men returned to take up their former jobs. Only following a meeting with PM Gordon Brown and the erection of a bronze statue of Women of Steel in 2016, did Sheffield women truly get the acknowledgment they deserved.

Much has been written about the men of Wakefield, but apart from a couple of well-documented individuals, the women of Wakefield have remained largely ignored. Yet many women in this prosperous West Riding town worked hard to improve their lives and those of other women. Whether this was healthcare, housing, working conditions or providing refuge and training so that girls with no means of support could be made fit for employment, Wakefield’s women worked separately and together to achieve their mutual goals. Some were active campaigners and lobbyists, others chose vocations that quietly improved the lives of the women around them. Struggle and Suffrage in Wakefield uses historical newspaper articles, minutes of meetings, annual reports, first-hand stories and research into census returns to illustrate how women’s lives changed over a 100 year period and reveal some of those Wakefield women whose influence made things happen.

The suffrage movement remains the largest autonomous political movement of women in British history. The Routledge Companion to British Women’s Suffrage provides a comprehensive survey of state-of-the-art contemporary scholarship on this movement. Arranged across four thematic sections, this volume explores the range of developments in suffrage research since the 1990s, combining a range of scholars’ unique insights to offer a much more complete picture of the British suffrage campaign. Each section provides a thoroughgoing overview of different approaches that have underpinned studies of the British suffrage movement, across disciplines ranging from history and gender studies, to literature, digital humanities, and sociology. Sections also explore the various aspects of the material cultures of the suffrage campaign, the variety of suffrage organisations, and the legacies of the movement. The Routledge Companion to British Women’s Suffrage is an essential handbook for those studying the history, sociology, and politics of the suffrage movement, with a valuable insight into contemporary developments in research.

The All India Women'S Conference Competes Seventy-Five Years In 2002. Little Work Has Been Done On The Contribution Of Women'S Organizations To Women'S Development In India.

Explore Chelmsford's secret history through a fascinating selection of stories, facts and photographs

The Suffragettes Complete History Of the Movement represents a monumental anthology that not only explores the suffrage movement in exhaustive detail but does so through a diversity of literary forms: essays, speeches, letters, and memoirs, among others. This collection provides an unparalleled insight into the historical and social dynamics of the struggle for women's voting rights, capturing its emotional gravity, ideological conflicts, and the tactical evolution over time. Notably, the anthology stands out for including landmark pieces that have shaped and been shaped by the suffrage movement, offering readers an immersive experience into the eras socio-political context. The editors and contributors, Harriot Stanton Blatch, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Matilda Gage, Ida H. Harper, are figures of monumental importance within the suffrage narrative, each bringing unique perspectives grounded in their personal experiences and broader historical movements. Their collective work in this anthology not only commemorates their contributions but situates their struggles and triumphs within the larger narrative of human rights advancements. Furthermore, their backgrounds encapsulate a rich diversity of feminist thought, highlighting the multiplicity of strategies and philosophies that underpinned the movement. As a scholarly compendium, The Suffragettes Complete History Of the Movement is a vital resource for anyone interested in the intersections of gender, politics, and history. It offers an extensive exploration of the suffrage movement, enabling readers to appreciate the complexities and the collective power of women's voices rallying for change. This anthology is a testament to the enduring significance of the suffragette movement, providing educational depth alongside inspiring narratives of resilience and solidarity. It is an essential read for those seeking to understand the foundation of feminist movements and the evolutionary strides towards equality.

“The Suffragette Movement - An Intimate Account Of Persons And Ideals” is a 1931 work by E. Sylvia Pankhurst. In this volume, Pankhurst aims to describe the events and experiences of the movement, as well as the characters and intentions of those involved. In this fascinating volume, Pankhurst shows the strife, suffering, a hope behind the pageantry, the rhetoric, and the turbulence of the time. Highly recommended for those with an interest in the British suffragette movement and worthy of a place on any every bookshelf. Contents include: “Richard Marsden Pankhurst”, “The Rise of the Women's Suffrage Movement”, “Emmeline Goulden”, “The Manchester by-election of 1883”, “Green Hayes”, “Third Reform Act. Pankhurst V. Hamilton”, etc. Emmeline Pankhurst (1858–1928) was a British political activist who organised the British suffragette movement and helped women attain voting rights. “Time” magazine named Pankhurst one of the 100 most important people of the 20th century in 1999.