The Rise of Political The Rise of Political Feminism Feminism

►Liberal society had not improved the Liberal society had not improved the lot of women lot of women Women did not have the vote or access to Women did not have the vote or access to

political activity political activity Catholic and Protestant countries males Catholic and Protestant countries males

liberals feared that granting the right to liberals feared that granting the right to vote to women would only serve to vote to women would only serve to benefit political conservatives benefit political conservatives ►Men believed that the priests held undue Men believed that the priests held undue

control over womencontrol over women

►Other women were often times Other women were often times reluctant to support feminist causesreluctant to support feminist causes Some were sensitive to their own class and Some were sensitive to their own class and

economic interests (what does this mean?)economic interests (what does this mean?) Others subordinated feminist political Others subordinated feminist political

issues to national unity and patriotism issues to national unity and patriotism Others refused to support particular Others refused to support particular

feminist organizations because they feminist organizations because they objected to their tacticsobjected to their tactics

►1792 – Mary Wollstonecraft – the 1792 – Mary Wollstonecraft – the Vindication of the Rights of Women Vindication of the Rights of Women laid the some groundwork by applying laid the some groundwork by applying the doctrines of the revolution to the the doctrines of the revolution to the rights of womenrights of women

►The earliest statements in support of The earliest statements in support of feminism arose from critics of the feminism arose from critics of the existing order who were often people existing order who were often people who had unorthodox opinions about who had unorthodox opinions about sexuality, family life, and propertysexuality, family life, and property

► Votes for Women in Britain Votes for Women in Britain Millicent Fawcett (1847 – 1929) – led and Millicent Fawcett (1847 – 1929) – led and

established the National Union of Women’s established the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies Suffrage Societies

Emmeline Pankhurst (1858 – 1928) – led and Emmeline Pankhurst (1858 – 1928) – led and founded the radical branch of feminism in England founded the radical branch of feminism in England Women’s Social and Political UnionWomen’s Social and Political Union►SuffregettesSuffregettes

Lobbied publicly and privately for extended the vote to Lobbied publicly and privately for extended the vote to women women

Eventually they turned to violent tactics of arso, breaking Eventually they turned to violent tactics of arso, breaking windows, and sabotage of postal boxeswindows, and sabotage of postal boxes

Many were imprisonedMany were imprisoned

►When do women get the right to vote?When do women get the right to vote? England: 1928England: 1928 Germany: 1919Germany: 1919 USA: 1920 USA: 1920

►Susan B. Anthony 1820 – 1906 Susan B. Anthony 1820 – 1906