Is female suffrage still needed?
- Katharyn Daniels
- Dec 28, 2018
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 9, 2019
“I don’t want to be held back because of my gender.”
Feminism. It’s one of the big hitters in today's society, a topic that lends itself fairly easily to internet trolls who claim that feminists are ‘men haters’ who want superiority. In actuality, when talking to a group of empowered women, it becomes clear that they still feel they have much to fight for.
2018 has been all the more significant for female suffrage, as it marks 100 years since the Representation of the People Act 1918 and since the first women were allowed a vote in a general election.
There were commemorative events held across England including in Lincoln, which played host to a march and performance on a chilly December Saturday. 100 years and one day since the first women voted.
Taboo sat down with the women who were involved with the performance to chat about feminism in today’s society and how important they saw the legacy of the suffragettes over 100 years ago.
The rain hammered down. The sort that would chill you to the bone and take you three hours to warm up from. Adding to the misery, the wind howled around your ears, rendering conversation impossible. Being cold had never been so noisy. But above it all, the regular “hear hear” from the crowd. The passion was heard above the wind and rain. The sort of passion that was felt. Despite the freezing rain.
The cause? The 100th anniversary of women in the UK voting for the first time in a general election.
Lincoln’s High Street was full of women who had turned out to march from St Martin’s Square to Speaker’s Corner while singing the words of a traditional protest song from 1884, repeating the chorus “oh dear what can the matter be, women are wanting the vote.” At the end was a performance from five women celebrating the accomplishments over the past 100 years and talking about how much further there is to go.
The turnout was high, despite the chill. Although the thought “why couldn’t they have first voted in August” was a sentiment echoed by those who forgot their gloves. Clearly this is an issue many care about.
Feminism in today’s society can sometimes be seen as a ‘dirty word’. With people misconstruing the meaning to be women wanting superiority over men. The dictionary definition of the word is “the advocacy of women’s rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes.”
In practice, it means a lot more to feminists today.
Sophie Lavender, one of the performers, takes the view feminism means that “we should be lifting each other up instead of tearing each other down.”
Fellow performer, Gemma Baker, agreed.
“When you hear the f word – feminism – it’s like people have this image of what a feminist is and it’s all about women. It’s not, it’s equality for everybody not just women, it’s men as well. They are absolutely a part of it.”
The women, now thawing out over mulled wine and hot chocolate, all agreed that the event had been a success.
Georgia Preece said “it was incredible, it was so emotional.” Gaynor Brown told me that she could not take it all in right now: “when I’m at home in a couple of hours’ time and realise what I’ve just done, it’ll be great.”
Rachel Baynton expressed her thanks to Phoebe Wall-Palmer, who was the project co-ordinator, adding: “I’m most especially proud of these five women here because they’ve just done something really powerful and wonderful, standing on the shoulders of their sisters who stood in that same spot 100 years ago.
“Those are some big shoes to fill and they did a really lovely job of it.”
It's clear that the suffragettes of the past held great significance for the group. Sarah Hughes explained: “without them I wouldn’t have some of the amazing privileges that I have now.
“I’m a very empowered, liberated woman but that might not have been the case if it hadn’t been for suffrage. I’m incredibly grateful and everyday I wake up and realise that I’m very lucky.”
She also stressed the importance of remembering the legacy the suffragettes left. “I think it’s important all women embrace the history and don’t take it for granted.”
The suffragettes were first allowed the vote 100 years ago, which then led to the gradual extension of the franchise until men and women over the age of 18 were allowed the vote on an equal basis.
100 years later and while the world looks very different, deep down it's clear that today’s feminists feel that they are facing similar battles. The group all agreed that there was still a way to go in the fight for equality and said that they hoped the UK would be an example worldwide while “pushing for progress.”
Ultimately the wishes of these women, as feminists, is to be treated equally. Gemma argued: “It’s not about women taking over the world. It’s just about fairness and why do we constantly have to justify that we just want to be treated equally?
“I don’t understand why that’s something we keep having to say.”
Sophie added: “I just want to have the same freedoms and liberation that men do. I want to be able to walk on my own and explore and not fear for somebody following me.
“I don’t want to be held back because of my gender.”
The passion each of the women hold for the subject of feminism and female suffrage was undeniable. Summed up most succinctly by Sophie, who drew inspiration from Maya Angelou. “There is a really good quote ‘still I rise,’ and I think 100 years on this is still the beginning.”
Another point of discussion amongst this dedicated group was the hope that the powerful women from 100 years ago that they called “queens” would be proud of their progress. Of the fiery passion that they trailblazed.
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