The Lecture Theatre was packed with Y11 historians at lunchtime today to hear Elisabeth Crawford, author of 'The Women's Suffrage Movement' discuss the struggle to gain votes for women from the first glimmer of dissension in 1866. Mrs Crawford explained the explosion of popularity of the movement for votes-for-women, the different approaches of the militants and those opposed to violence. It was fascinating to hear in detail how Emmeline Pankhurst's founding of the Women's Social and Political Union sent shockwaves through society, about the turning point of the 1st World war and how even the changing fashion of the period to a more tailored, masculine style coincided with the increasingly militant campaign. Women looked as though they meant business. In papers and Parliament the talk might have been negative but it was publicity all the same, which Elisabeth described as the "Drip drip drip" effect. Votes for women were inevitable. It was just a question of when.

17 February 2011