The Suffrage Campaign
As usual , on a Tuesday morning I went to our organisation ; the WCA and what do I find there? I found on the table an interesting book on the Suffragette Campaign. Curious to know as to what took place I began reading it.
The book reported that Millicent Fawcett was the leader of the Suffragist campaign. In the 18 century women were not educated. They did not go to school. So, most of them did domestic work such as washing clothes and ironing them.
Despite all the trouble that women went through ”Millicent Garrett from the age of 19 campaigned tirelessly for women’s right to vote . In 1866 she collected signatures on a petition , which she was too young to sign herself ”. At the age of 20 , Millicent married Henry Fawcett, a Liberal Member of Parliament who supported the suffrage campaign. Henry was blind . Therefore, Millicent became his assistant helping him with his correspondences and speeches in parliament. She became the President of the National Union for Women’s Suffrage Societies in 1907.
When the first World War began, the Suffragettes disbanded their campaign and joined the War effort , but Millicent carried on her commitments for suffragettes . Finally, in 1918 the debate was recognised, and Universal suffrage was granted on equal terms for men and women.
I was amazed at her dedication and the priceless gift that she has granted to women all over the World. I salute you !!
By Devi – May 2018
(Source: Suffrage Centenary : A Brief History , Millicent Fawcett – Newsletter , The Fawcett Society 2017)