This year marks the 100th anniversary of the death of passionate suffragette Emily Wilding Davison on Derby Day, bringing last century’s women’s suffrage cause back into the public eye.
In July 1908 over 50,000 women walked from all corners of Britain – beginning as far away as Lands End or Newcastle – to converge on Hyde Park in London to demonstrate how many women wanted the right to vote. Herbert Asquith’s government did not respond, in spite of such huge numbers.
To mark the anniversary this July a walk from Brighton to London is being organised. 'Walk for Women' was started up by the people behind the ‘No More Page 3’ campaign. They invite all those who support the suffragette's cause – be they of the peaceful Fawcett school or activist Pankhurst to take part in this inclusive event to honour all those who supported women’s suffrage.
On Sunday 21st July the long walk to London’s Hyde Park will be embarked upon, suffragism supporters can join the entire walk or just part of it. If you are unable to join in the walking, you can just meet the walkers during a break and talk women’s history.
Not since the first purple, green and white sash was sewn and “votes for women!” shouted has suffragism drawn so much attention. Channel 4 recently aired a documentary presented by Clare Balding on the ‘Secrets of the Suffragettes’. Clare Balding took the Suffragette slogan “Deeds not Words” very seriously: “We're talking about a terrorist movement."
Jessica Hynes and BBC 4 have teamed up to make the channel’s first sitcom. Suitably historically informative for the channel ‘Up the Women!’ tells the story of the ‘Banbury Intricate Craft Circle Politely Demands Women’s Suffrage’.
The three part sitcom is the product of years of Jessica’s research into the women’s suffrage movement. In an interview with ‘The Independent’ she discussed her prolonged interest in the history of women’s lives in the early 1900s: "I mean Christabel Pankhurst got a first-class degree in law, but, as a woman, wasn't allowed to practise law."
Women’s rights and history might seem an unlikely subject for comedy. However, as co-star Rebecca Front’s show ‘Psychobitches’, which charts various women from history undergoing therapy, shows it is fertile ground for comic creations and, more importantly, an audience for it.
To find out more about Walk for Women click HERE!
