THE SUFFRAGETTE MOVEMENT To examine the suffragette movement in Ireland and its key figures.

THE SUFFRAGETTE MOVEMENT Queen Victoria ruled the British Empire from 1837 to 1901. She was a role model and symbolised British power. Most other women didn’t have this power. At the end of the 19th century in Britain and Ireland, women were seen as second-class citizens. Feminists challenged the traditional role of women in society. They realised that to improve the social and political position of women, they would have to gain the vote.

IRISH WOMEN LATE 19TH & EARLY 20TH CENTURY In early 20th century Ireland, it was the general view that women were not equal to men. This was shown in: Property rights: Only a single woman could own property in her own name, as it became her husband’s on marriage. Money: As with property, this became her husband’s. Children: If a marriage broke down, the husband gained custody of the children. This role was also enforced by the Catholic Church who believed that it preserved the woman’s modesty. Most women accepted that a woman’s most important role was a domestic one.

QUESTION: In what ways were women not equal to men at the beginning of the 20th century in Britain and Ireland?

ISABELLA TOD Write an account on Isabella Tod. See pages 107&108 for information.

SUFFRAGETTES The right to vote is called franchise or suffrage. Women who fought for the right to vote were known as suffragettes. In England they were led by Emmeline Pankhurst. Ireland was represented by Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington and Margaret Cousins.

POLITICAL ORGANISATION Women began to organise politically: The Ladies’ Land League – Founded on 31st January 1881 by Parnell’s sisters, Anna and Fanny, it initially supported the Land League before becoming active in its own right during the Land War. They were radical and frequently imprisoned, which led to their ban. They were criticised by opposition and the Land League. Parnell dissolved them in 1882. The Dublin Women’s Suffrage Association – It was founded by Anna and Thomas Haslam. They were Quakers who believed that men and women were equals. In 1898 a local government act allowed women to vote and run for election at local level but not national. After becoming the Irish Woman’s Suffrage and Local Government Association (IWSLGA) in 1899, they continued to encourage women to vote and stand for local elections. Inghinidhe na hEireann – The ‘Daughters of Ireland’ were founded in 1900 by Maude Gonne and Jenny Wyse Power and promoted the significance of being an Irish woman.

OPPOSITION TO WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE Women too emotional to make decisions. Women not as intelligent as men. Women would be corrupted by politics. Already well represented by men. It would be a distraction from the family. Fear of how women would vote. Would they support the opposition?

Examine this cartoon, which shows John Redmond’s opposition to women’s suffrage, and answer the following questions: How does the cartoonist show that Redmond opposed granting votes to women? Who does the woman on the ground represent? Why did political leaders such as Redmond oppose women’s suffrage? Is the cartoon showing support for Redmond’s views?

HANNA SHEEHY-SKEFFINGTON Hanna Sheehy was born in Cork in 1877 to a middle class family. She attended UCD where she met her husband, Francis Skeffington. When they married, they took each other’s surname as a symbol of equality (Sheehy-Skeffington). In 1908, Hanna founded the Irish Women’s Franchise League (IWFL) to campaign for suffrage and avoid other political issues such as nationalism and unionism. Her opinion changed following her husband’s murder during the 1916 Rising. She continued to campaign for women’s rights until her death in 1946.

IRISH WOMEN’S FRANCHISE LEAGUE Founded in 1908 by Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington and Margaret Cousins with only 4 members. Grew to over 1,000 members within 4 years. Published their own newspaper the Irish Citizen, edited by Sheehy-Skeffington’s husband, Francis. It had a circulation of 3,000. Carried out a campaign of protest beginning in 1911, when it seemed likely that the 3rd Home Rule Bill would become law. IWFL began heckling politicians, damaging public buildings and hunger striking. Some went to jail. The campaign continued for two years but the Home Rule party made no effort to introduce votes for women.

In 1928 all women over the age of 30 were given the right to vote.