Mrs Emmeline Pankhurst

Mrs Emmeline Pankhurst

Emmeline Pankhurst, a middle-class mother of five from Manchester, England, changed history when, in 1903, she formed the Women's Social and Political Union.

Emmeline Goulden was born on 14 July 1858 in Manchester into a family with a tradition of radical politics. In 1879, she married Richard Pankhurst, a lawyer and supporter of the women's suffrage movement. He was the author of the Married Women's Property Acts of 1870 and 1882, which allowed women to keep earnings or property acquired before and after marriage. His death in 1898 was a great shock to Emmeline.

Like many suffragettes, Emmeline was arrested on numerous occasions over the nextfew years and went on hunger strike herself, resulting in violent force-feeding. In 1913, in response to the wave of hunger strikes, the government passed what became known as the 'Cat and Mouse' Act. Hunger striking prisoners were released until they grew strong again, and then re-arrested.

Quotes

"We are here, not because we are law-breakers; we are here in our efforts to become law-makers."

"The moving spirit of militancy is deep and abiding reverence for human life"

"I want to say to you who think women cannot succeed, we have brought the government of England to this position, that it has to face this alternative: either women are to be killed or women are to have the vote."

"What is the use of fighting for a vote if we have not got a country to vote in?"

"Justice and judgment lie often a world apart"