On July 14, we observe Emmeline Pankhurst Day. It is a day to remember Emmeline Pankhurst and her struggle for equal rights for suffragette women. Pankhurst was a political activist from England. Her actions directly led to women obtaining the right to vote in July 1928. Historians frequently criticise her for her militant actions. She passed away in June 1928 before realising her enduring ambition. Her extensive political campaigns contributed to the empowerment of women in the United Kingdom as a whole.
The background of Emmeline Pankhurst Day
The ability to vote was once a fantasy for the majority of women. However, circumstances have changed, and society now recognises the significance of women’s suffrage rights. However, this political transition was not smooth. It was the result of extensive political campaigns conducted by numerous individuals.
Emmeline Pankhurst was a significant figure in British history. 14 July 1858, she was born in Manchester, England. Her birth certificate indicates that she was born on July 15, despite her claim that she was born on July 14. On December 18, 1879, she wedded Richard Pankhurst. In 1889, Pankhurst and her spouse founded the Women’s Franchise League for the sole purpose of securing voting rights for all women. However, the organisation was deemed radical because it also supported equal rights for women in inheritance and divorce matters.
Pankhurst established the Women’s Social and Political Union (W.S.P.U.) in 1903. It is a women-only group that emphasises on direct action to secure the vote. It was created with the understanding that more direct action, not just rhetoric, would be required to secure their voting rights. After the formation of the organisation, they began to vigorously advocate for the right. During their activities, Pankhurst and her daughters were detained on multiple occasions.
In 1908, she was arrested for forcibly entering parliament in order to convey her protest directly to Prime Minister H. H. Asquith. She led numerous campaigns for the remainder of her life, including starvation strikes, physical action, and open-air rallies. For the greater good, she ceased her militant activities during World War I. On June 14, 1928, she passed away, and the movement she initiated paved the way for modern society to take shape.
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5 FACTS ABOUT EMMELINE PANKHURST
Finland was the first European nation to grant women the right to vote, and Finnish women have been able to do so since 1906.
In 1979, the United Nations designated women’s suffrage as a human right.
Wyoming was the first state in the United States to grant women the ability to vote.
Saudi Arabia granted women the right to vote in 2015, making Vatican City the only country that still denies women the vote.
Even in early democracies such as Greece and the Roman Republic, women had no voting rights.
EMMELINE PANKHURST DAY DATES
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2023 | July 14 | Friday |
2024 | July 14 | Sunday |
2025 | July 14 | Monday |
2026 | July 14 | Tuesday |
2027 | July 14 | Wednesday |