The British Suffrage Movement and Some Aristocratic Ladies' Contribution to Its Success

Abstract

In the 1850s women had no legal status and both socially and legally they were considered to be inferior to men. In the political field, men made all the decision-making and women could not vote in elections. As Charles James Fox said they would vote as their fathers or husbands told them so it would be unnecessary to give them the right to vote. Women had to overcome many obstacles and face many challenges to gain the vote. They had to persuade the Members of Parliament to extend their rights. At the turn of the century, the support of the women’s suffrage movement was relatively great. The majority of the members of the political elite patronized them in principles. However, the realization of their aims was continually default. A convulsion was needed in order women could change the privilege nature of franchise into a fundamental political right.