Suffragists and suffragettes

Difference between Suffragettes and Suffragists

The movement to gain votes for women was split into two parts; the suffragists and the suffragettes. Both the words come from the word "suffrage," which means "the right to vote."
A "suffragist" is anyone, regardless of gender, who demands or promotes the right to vote. They both fought to get the women's vote, however they did this in completley different ways. The Suffragists used peaceful, law-abiding methods such as using propaganda. However, the Suffragettes had a more direct approach. They protested by using violence and fear. They set fire to houses, attacked the police and other citizens.
The suffragists had their origins in the mid nineteenth century, while the suffragettes came into being in 1903. That’s why in Blue Stockings there is talks about Suffragists but not suffragettes.

Introduction and Background:

In the nineteenth century women had no place in national politics. They could not stand as candidates for Parliament. They were not even allowed to vote. It was assumed that women did not need the vote because their husbands would take responsibility in political matters. A woman's role was seen to be child-rearing and taking care of the home. As a result of the industrial revolution many women were in full-time employment, which meant they had opportunities to meet in large organised groups to discuss political and social issues. Organised campaigns for women's suffrage began to appear in 1866 and from 1888 women could vote in many local council elections. When parliamentary reform was being debated in 1867, John Stuart Mill proposed an amendment that would have given the vote to women on the same terms as men but it was rejected by 194 votes to 73. The campaign gained momentum after this. Nineteenth century feminists talked about "The Cause". This described a movement for women's rights generally. It had no particular political focus. But by the close of the century the issue of the vote became the focus of women's struggle for equality.

What did they Campaign for?

Before the first suffrage reforms in 1832 only 3% of the male populations could vote as it depended on how much they had and the value of their property/properties. As a result of this the only people that could vote were rich men. Therefore in 1800s campaigners fought to extend this which happend in 1867 and in 1884. This meant more people could vote but under these reforms women still couldn’t vote.
Campaigners wanted women to vote on the same terms as men. This is due to many campaigners were middle class women. They wanted it to be extended to all women not just wealthy ones.

Why were they campaigning?

They were campaigning for women not having the right to vote, this shows the inequality in their society. Campaigners wanted women to vote as they felt the laws were biased against women and reinforced the idea of women as inferior to men. For example, until 1882, women’s property would belong to her husband when they got married. As well as this, women now had to pay taxes on the businesses the new law permitted them to own. In addition to this, Campaigners wanted equal status for all men and women, they felt getting the right to vote and have a voice in the parliament would do this.

How did they Campaign?

People campaigned in a variety of different ways. For example The National Union of Women’s Suffrage had a peaceful and slow approach which included public meeting, leaflets, newspapers and journals. However the Suffragettes Women’s Social and political Union used more violent approaches such as setting public places on fire, disrupted speeches in the House of Commons. Anyone who took part in this went to prison.

MillIcent Fawcett:

Many suffragist groups existed all over the country, however their aim was all the same: to achieve the right to vote for women through constitutional, peaceful means. There were regional groups, especially in urban centres such as Manchester, which held public meetings and petitioned at local level. Millicent Fawcett campagined at National level. In 1897, regional societies with no political party allegiances established to lobby peacefully for the Parliamentary vote came together to form the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS). This was led by Millicent Fawcett. Garrett published widely on women's issues and was a frequent public speaker on women's rights. She was the wife of an MP called Henry Fawcett, and regularly sat in the Ladies' Gallery of the House of Commons to watch the debates. Her influenical and determined leadership of the NUWSS made it a substantial and significant impact in the campaign for women's votes.