Women's suffrage in Scotland

Last updated

Anna Munro advertising the Scottish Women's Freedom League Anna Munro suffragette pic.jpg
Anna Munro advertising the Scottish Women's Freedom League

Women's suffrage was the seeking of the right of women to vote in elections. It was carried out by both men and women, it was a very elongated and gruelling campaign that went on for 86 years before the Representation of the People Act 1918 was introduced on 6 February 1918, which provided a few women with the right to vote. [1]

Contents

One of the first three UK societies supporting women's rights to vote was established in 1867, in Scotland's capital, the Edinburgh National Society for Women's Suffrage. [2]

Role of different groups

Scottish suffragettes released from prison with Flora Drummond Suffragettes with tartan sashes, c.1908. (22302489623).jpg
Scottish suffragettes released from prison with Flora Drummond

Later Scotland's suffragettes were part of the British Women's Social and Political Union militant movement, and took part in campaigns locally and in London; for example when Winston Churchill arrived to stand for election as M.P. in Dundee in 1908 he was followed by 27 of the national leaders of the women's suffrage movements. At one point he even hid in a shed and tried to host a meeting there. [3]

Scottish women like Flora Drummond had leadership roles with the Pankhursts, in the London WSPU headquarters, and celebrated the Scottish community of activists on their release from prison. [4] Others like Frances Parker from New Zealand, were organising the West of Scotland WSPU and like others was infamously subjected to force feeding orally and rectally in Scottish [5] and British prisons. [6] Parker was also arrested when trying to disrupt David Lloyd George from giving a speech in the Music Hall in Aberdeen, [7] and allegedly set fire to Burns Cottage in Alloway, Ayrshire. [8]

There were many Scottish women across all classes who took an active role in the movement to draw attention to the growing demands for equal right to Votes for Women.

Scottish branches of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies were active in the main cities and even in the rural and remote areas such as Dornoch, [9] [10] in the Highlands, Stornoway with 27 women forming a suffrage association, [11] from the remote Western Isles (the Hebrides), as well as NUWSS Orcadian group [12] in Orkney and a Shetland suffrage society. [13]

Awareness raising educational resources and game

In 2021, as yet, no accessible images of the only (known) black Scottish suffragist Jessie M. Soga have been identified, nor is it known if there were other Scottish women of colour campaigning for the vote. Dr. TS Beall said Scotland's suffragists' and suffragettes' activities were not taught 'much' in Scottish schools, and their names were not generally known. [14]

Soga was included in a new educational game (Top Trumps-style) on Scotland's Suffragettes Trumps cards, produced by Protests & Suffragettes (an artists, activists and local history project including Dr. Beall) by crowdfunding to send 700 sets to schools across Scotland. [14] The cards were included in Scotland's Suffrage History Education Packs, 100 of which were sent to Scottish schools. [14] Women's History Scotland's Dr. Yvonne McFadden called it 'a fun and important tool to make sure these women and their stories' are included in the Scottish school curriculum, as women's history is often limited in school history teaching. [14] The impact of these materials was discussed on Borders TV, including the recognition by primary school children that 'change makers' were based in their own communities in Kelso and Stranraer. [15]

An interactive map of the specific places associated with the women's suffrage movement in Aberdeen and area, is available which shows how connected the women in this area were with the wider suffrage movement and in leadership roles. [16] This was included into wikipedia articles at a CodeTheCity, civic open data event [17] called #CTC28 connections editathon in March 2023.

Fanny Parker being escorted out from Ayr Sheriff Court Fanny Parker, suffragette, 1914.jpg
Fanny Parker being escorted out from Ayr Sheriff Court

See also


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frances Parker</span> New Zealand-born suffragette

Frances Mary "Fanny" Parker was a New Zealand-born suffragette who became prominent in the militant wing of the Scottish women's suffrage movement and was repeatedly imprisoned for her actions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helen Fraser (feminist)</span> Scottish suffragist, feminist, educationalist and Liberal Party politician

Helen Miller Fraser, later Moyes, was a Scottish suffragist, feminist, educationalist and Liberal Party politician who later emigrated to Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Pollock Grant</span> British politician (1876–1957)

Mary Pollock Grant, also known as Marion Pollock, was a Scottish suffragette, Liberal Party politician, missionary and policewoman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janie Allan</span> Scottish suffrage activist (1868–1968)

Jane "Janie" Allan was a Scottish activist and fundraiser for the suffragette movement of the early 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arabella Scott</span> Scottish suffragette

Arabella Scott was a Scottish teacher, suffragette and campaigner. As a member of the Women's Freedom League (WFL) she took a petition to Downing Street in July 1909. She subsequently adopted more militant tactics with the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). She was one of a group who attempted arson at Kelso racecourse in May 1913. She was arrested many times and went on hunger strikes when she was sent to jail. Whilst in Perth Prison in 1914, she was force-fed for an extraordinarily long time under the supervision of Dr Hugh Ferguson Watson. She was released under the controversial Cat and Mouse Act. WSPU activism ceased when the First World War began and Scott later emigrated to Australia. She wrote about her experiences in her autobiography A Murky Past.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glasgow and West of Scotland Association for Women's Suffrage</span> Glasgow based womens suffrage association

The Glasgow and West of Scotland Association for Women’s Suffrage was an organisation involved in campaigning for women’s suffrage, based in Glasgow, with members from all over the west of Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jane Taylour</span>

Jane E. Taylour was a Scottish suffragist and women's movement campaigner, and one of the first women to give lectures in public. She travelled around Scotland and northern England as a suffrage lecturer, and was a key figure in spreading the message of the women's suffrage throughout Scotland and inspiring others to join the National Society for Women's Suffrage.

Caroline Phillips was a Scottish feminist, suffragette and journalist. She was honorary secretary of the Aberdeen branch of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), met and corresponded with many of the leaders of the movement and was also involved in the organisation of militant action in Aberdeen.

Mabel Jones was a British physician and a sympathizer to the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU).

Jessie Cunningham Methven was a Scottish campaigner for women's suffrage. She was honorary secretary of the Edinburgh National Society for Women's Suffrage from the mid 1890s until 1906. She subsequently joined the more militant Women's Social and Political Union and described herself as an "independent socialist".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edith Hudson</span> British nurse and suffragette

Edith Hudson was a British nurse and suffragette. She was an active member of the Edinburgh branch of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) and was arrested several times for her part in their protests in Scotland and London. She engaged in hunger strikes while in prison and was forcibly fed. She was released after the last of these strikes under the so-called Cat and Mouse Act. Hudson was awarded a Hunger Strike Medal 'for Valour' by the WSPU.

Elizabethand Agnes Thomson were Scottish suffragettes and members of the Edinburgh branch of the Women's Social and Political Union. They were arrested for their involvement in WSPU protests in Scotland and London. The sisters were involved in the first arson attempt in Scotland as part of the WSPU arson campaign in 1913. Elizabeth was imprisoned for her role and went on hunger strike. She was later released under the Prisoners Act 1913, so-called Cat and Mouse Act. Elizabeth was awarded a Hunger Strike Medal 'for Valour' by the WSPU.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catherine Corbett</span> British suffragette

Catherine Isobel Ida Corbett was a British suffragette, one of those imprisoned and awarded the Hunger Strike Medal, for the cause of the Women's Social and Political Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stornoway Women's Suffrage Society</span> Womens suffrage campaigners in Scotland

The Stornoway Women's Suffrage Association was an organisation that campaigned for women's suffrage across the UK, based in Stornoway, Lewis in the Western Isles of Scotland, the Hebrides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amy Sanderson</span> Scottish suffragette

Amy Sanderson née Reid (1876-1931), was a Scottish suffragette, national executive committee member of the Women's Freedom League, who was imprisoned twice. She was key speaker at the 1912 Hyde Park women's rally, after marching from Edinburgh to London, and, with Charlotte Despard and Teresa Billington-Greig, was a British delegate to the 1908 and 1923 international women's congresses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shetland Women's Suffrage Society</span>

The Shetland Women's Suffrage Association was an organisation involved in campaigning for women’s suffrage, based in Shetland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orcadian Women's Suffrage Society</span>

The Orcadian Women's Suffrage Association was an organisation involved in campaigning for women’s suffrage, based in Orkney, Scotland.

Mary Anne Baikie (1861–1950) a Scottish suffragist who established the Orcadian Women's Suffrage Society (OWSS) and grew the membership and public interest in the debate, in the Orkney Isles, during the campaigns for Votes for Women.

Muriel Eleanor Scott (1888–1963), was a Scottish suffragette, hunger striker, and protest organiser. Her sister Arabella Scott was force-fed many times, and Muriel Scott led protests about this cruel treatment.

Bina Cursiter was a Scottish suffragist, who played a leading role in Orcadian Women's Suffrage Society, and helped to galvanise the organised women's movement in Orkney.

References

  1. Grant, Jocelyn (8 March 2019). "Scotland and Women's Suffrage". Open Book. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  2. "A guid cause ... The women's suffrage movement in Scotland". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  3. Sharpe, Gillian (10 October 2015). "Scotland's suffragettes" . Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  4. Atkinson, Diane (2018). Rise up, women! : the remarkable lives of the suffragettes. London: Bloomsbury. p. 179. ISBN   978-1-4088-4404-5. OCLC   1016848621.
  5. madeinpe (18 May 2014). "Suffragette Movement in Perth". Made in Perth ~ Official Website ~ SC044155. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  6. "Te Papa buys rare bravery medal awarded to suffrage activist Frances Parker". Stuff. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  7. Pedersen, Sarah. "The Aberdeen Women's Suffrage Campaign". suffrageaberdeen.co.uk. copyright WildFireOne. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  8. Leneman, Leah (1993). Martyrs in our midst : Dundee, Perth and the forcible feeding of suffragettes. Abertay Historical Society. Dundee: Abertay Historical Society. p. 31. ISBN   0-900019-29-8. OCLC   27678731.
  9. Higgins, Sue (10 April 2013). "Suffragettes!". historylinksdornoch. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  10. Crawford, Elizabeth (1999). The women's suffrage movement : a reference guide, 1866-1928. London: UCL Press. p. 171. ISBN   0-203-03109-1. OCLC   53836882.
  11. Katie (12 February 2018). "A Hebridean tale to remind us about the women we were". Hebrides Writer. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  12. Dusty (10 March 2018). "Orkney Archive - get dusty: A Suffrage Search". Orkney Archive - get dusty. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  13. "Fighting for the right". The Shetland Times. 9 January 2009. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Paterson, Kirsteen (6 December 2021). "Gallusness 10: The Top Trumps-style project taking suffragette stories to schools". The National. p. 19. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  15. "Education packs on Scottish Suffragettes" (video). ITV Borders. 21 December 2021.
  16. Pedersen, Sarah. "The Aberdeen Women's Suffrage Campaign". suffrageaberdeen.co.uk. copyright WildFireOne. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  17. "Code The City". Code The City. Retrieved 18 March 2023.

Further reading