Defining Moments for Women | Ruby Penaluna

Monday 15-03-2021 - 10:47

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Women's History Month aims to increase consciousness and knowledge of women's history. Therefore, it only seems right to discuss the extraordinary and incredible things that have been achieved so far for Women.

 

The women’s right movement started in the US in the early 19th century when women and men joined the antislavery movement. However, women became infuriated that men could lead antislavery lectures and organisations while women were publicly mocked for their attempts. Women began to stand up against inequality and demand that they deserved the same rights as men.

 

This began the women’s suffrage movement and a fight for women’s right to vote.

 

Since ancient Greece and republican Rome, women were excluded from the right to vote; as democracies began to be introduced, women were still excluded from participation.

 

 

Important Figures

 

Particularly in the UK and US, women began to question the system and demand for equal voting rights.

 

Through petitioning, rallies, leaflets, letters and protests, women began to see a breakthrough. It cannot be ignored that countless women put their lives on the line to see women get the vote.

 

Emmeline Pankhurst, women's rights activist and founder of the WSPU commonly known as the suffragettes, undertook hunger strikes, and Emily Davidson, a member of the WSPU, threw herself under a king’s horse at the Derby, resulting in her death.

 

Both acts of protests against the failure to grant women the vote.

 

 

Key Dates

 

Finally, in the early years of the 20th century, women won the right to vote in national elections in New Zealand (1983), Australia (1902), Finland (1906), and Norway (1913).

 

However, it wasn’t until 1928 that ALL women got the right to vote in the UK.

 

This began a fight against inequality: now that women had the right to vote, why couldn't they have equality in all aspects of life?

  • In 1921 unemployment benefits were extended to include allowances for wives.
     
  • In 1960 women gained the right to contraception; thousands of women had died due to self-induced abortions, miscarriages and multiple childbirths. Planned parenthood become normalised, and women were given control regarding childbirth, pregnancy and the choice to use contraception

  • 1970 brought The Equal Pay Act, which was a parliamentary act that prohibited any less favourable treatment between women and men in terms of pay

  • In 1975 The Sex Discrimination Act made it illegal to discriminate against women within the workplace

  • In 1977 the First international women’s day was celebrated as a strategy to promote equal rights, including suffrage for women

  • In 1986 Statutory maternity pay is introduced giving women the right to maternity pay

  • 1993 equality between men and women in higher education enrolment is finally reached, giving women equal opportunities in education

  • 2010 the introduction of the Equality Act states that it illegal for women to be harassed or bullies in the workplace

 

Over the last century significant achievements have been made by women regarding equality.

 

There have been vast improvements in women's rights to equal pay, the right to vote, and the rights to education, and we should all celebrate the hard work and achievements that have been made.

 

 

Equality at Edge Hill

 

Edge Hill has a strong-rooted history in women’s rights. In 1885 it was set up as the first non-denominational teacher training college for women.

 

Today Edge Hill’s corporate colours represent the struggle for women’s rights and progress. The colours green and purple reflect and honour the suffrage movement representing our university’s proud history.

 

However, we have not yet reached an equal world: gender bias, inequality and stereotyping still exist.

 

This year, for women’s history month, the SU is focusing on gender equality.

 

We can all choose to challenge gender bias and inequality in our lives in order to achieve a fairer, more equal world for everyone.  

 

If this is something you are interested in, have a read of my previous blog on the #choosetochallenge campaign for some useful tips on how you can challenge gender bias.

 

 

Ruby Penaluna is the Women’s Officer for Edge Hill Students’ Union. She has led the Women’s Week campaign, and will be consulting students on improving safety on campus in the wake of the tragic news around Sarah Everard. If you’d like to be part of future conversations, join our Women’s Network.

 

 

 

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