1. ANNIE BESANT Women’s emancipation emancipation

2. ANNIE BESANT’S LIFE Annie Besant lived between 1847 and 1933. His father was a famous doctor who died when she was only five years old. Her mother had to work looking after boarders, so she persuaded a friend to take responsibility for her upbringing.

3. Annie Besant got married when she was only nineteen years old with Frank Besant. At the age of twenty-three she had had two children. However, Annie wasn’t completely happy because her independent spirit clashed with the traditional views of her husband. Afterwards, a legal separation was arranged and the son, Digby, went to live with his father whereas the daughter ( Mabel) went to live with Annie, to London.

4. ANNIE’S OCCUPATION Annie had been all her life a housewife until he met Charles Bradlaugh. Later, she worked writing in a radical way of communication called National Reformer. This job was the first of different other works related to the emancipation of women.

5. CAMPAIGNED FOR THE … Control of birth. She thought it was more moral to prevent conception of children than, after they were born, to murder them by want of food, air and clothing. Health of young women workers at the Bryan & May match factory, because of the dangers of phosphorus fumes and against the low wages paid to the women who worked at Bryant & May. Free meals for the undernourished children and free medical examinations for all those in elementary schools.

6. FURTHER INFORMATION: She became a supporter of Theosophy, which was based on Hindu ideas of karma and reincarnation with nirvana as the eventual aim. In addition, in 1911 was one of the main speakers at an important NUWSS rally in London.

7. HER ACHIEVEMENTS WERE … One of her achievements was to include a programme of free meals for undernourished children of London School Board and free medical examinations for all those in elementary schools.

8. MORE ACHIEVEMENTS: She changed the religous life of India. She founded the Hindu Head office School and College in Benarés, years later she created the Hindu School and College in Benarés.

9. FINALLY … Women gave support to her thoughts. In that epoch women were not encouraged to participate in public life. However, Annie made women change their mind. Finally, women wanted to take part in the programme of founding new schools in India.

10. ANYTHING ELSE? She took part in the publication of two important books. The Fruits of Philosophy, with Charles Bradlaugh, which made them go to prison. The second was Fabian Essays, in which she published, with some other authors, different articles. It was a success, the book sold 27.000 copies in two years.

11. THE END By: Sara Sierra del Sol and Patricia Altieri Juan