UK Feminist Politics 1890s

What is it about?

The WEU was a numerically small but influential women's organisation in the UK in the 1890s. This paper shows how it influenced the transformation of the demand for women's suffrage from an ideology based on women's service to the nation, to one of their consent to abide by the laws which governed them - but which they had no say or role in making.

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Why is it important?

The WEU formed a 'bridge' between the 'old' style campaigns for the women's vote, termed as 'constitutionalist' to the new 'militant' action, spearheaded by the Women's Social and Political Union, led by Emmeline Pankhurst. However, the WEU was not solely an organisation which campaigned for the parliamentary vote for women, but a group that sought to address the multiple subjections they faced, be these social, cultural, legal, economic or sexual.