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Women's Franchise League Founded
Emmeline Pankhurst (Goulden) founded the Women's Franchise League (WFL) alongside her husband Richard Pankhurst, which fought to allow married women to vote in local elections. The WLF was one of the first middle-class organizations to shed light and advance the suffrage movement. This event was only the beginning for Goulden and her fight for gender equality as a couple years later she introduced a new, more assertive group which would lead to a shift in how gender equality was fought. -
National Women's Social and Political Union Started
The National Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) started and was quickly recognized for their radical and militant-like approach. Their activities lead to members being known as "suffragettes" who used the slogan "Votes for Women". WSPU fought for women's voting rights in physical ways like breaking windows and fighting with police officers. WSPU influenced Goulden's advocacy as she introduced new tactics (ex. the hunger strikes) and willingly put her life in danger for women's liberation. -
Emmeline Arrested for Speaking Out
Although this is not the only time Emmeline would be arrested, it definitely sent a message. Emmeline tried to enter parliament and deliver a protest resolution in front of the Prime Minister where she was then ordered to 6 weeks in prison and charged with obstruction. Goulden would be arrested 2 more times within a year where she was brutally force fed when she went on a hunger strike. The first arrest of Goulden influenced her gender equality fight as it proved the lengths she would go to. -
The Uproar of the Conciliation Bill
The Conciliation Bill was designed to limit the number of women that could vote in accordance of marital status and property holdings. When Emmeline heard the news, she lead a group of 300 women to the House of Commons where chaos broke loose. Women were being arrested and forcefully held by police. Although women were mistreated in this situation, it advanced gender equality greatly as a new Conciliation Bill was passed in May 1911 that recognized the inequality for men and women when voting. -
References
Simkin, J. (n.d.). Emmeline Pankhurst. Spartacus educational. Retrieved September 11, 2021, from https://spartacus-educational.com/WpankhurstE.htm. Barr, S. (2018, December 13). Who was Emmeline Pankhurst the pioneer of the SUFFRAGETTE MOVEMENT? The Independent. Retrieved September 11, 2021, from https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/women/emmeline-pankhurst-who-womens-suffrage-leader-suffragette-political-activist-statue-a8681901.html.