Why teach your children about London Suffragettes?

2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the first women winning the right to vote in the UK. Therefore, so much of the history of the Women’s Suffragette movement centres around London, the UK’s capital city and home of Parliament. This is a great year to inspire your children about London Suffragettes and the overall Suffragette Movement.

On New Year’s Eve 2018, fireworks exploded across the River Thames to the soundtrack of Britain’s best female voices to begin the celebrations of this momentous occasion.

It was in London on 6th February 1918 that the Representation of the People Act was passed by the British Parliament. This allowed 8.4 million women to vote as well as millions of formerly excluded men. Although the Act only permitted voting for women over 30, who were either university graduates or house owners, this was a giant leap forward for British women. It wasn’t until 1928 however that ALL women over the age of 21 got the right to vote.

“You must make women count as much as men; you must have an equal standard of morals; and the only way to enforce that is through giving women political power so that you can get that equal moral standard registered in the laws of the country. It is the only way.”  Emmeline Pankhurst

Later in 1918, the little known Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act was also passed and this allowed women to sit in Parliament for the first time.

There will be lots of celebrations all around the UK to mark this important anniversary. Teaching your children a little about the role London Suffragettes played in the fight for women’s equality will help inspire, entertain and keep the memories of these pioneering women alive for younger generations.

How can you teach about London Suffragettes?

Today, our children grow up used to images of female prime ministers and world leaders (in some countries, at least!). It can be hard to explain to explain to them that merely 100 years ago, women would not have been allowed to even vote for their government let alone represent them in Parliament.

Here’s a practical guide to how to find engaging ways to talk to your children about London Suffragettes, Women’s Rights, the overall Suffragette Movement and the importance of this 2018’s centenary celebrations.

A quick note: I probably should have titled this post 5 Engaging Ways to teach Children about London Suffragists. Suffragists were a huge group of women who campaigned for women’s rights to vote peacefully and legally. Suffragettes were a smaller group of a few thousand women, members of the British WSPU, who believed that the suffragist’s method wasn’t working. They used direct action including hunger strikes, protests and militancy. I decided to use the term Suffragette as some of the most famous women mentioned in this post, the Pankhurst sisters and Emily Davidson were, in fact, Suffragettes.

1. Suffragette Plaques, Monuments and Sites in London

Lesser known and hidden away across London are dozens of blue plaques, statues and memorial dedicated to British suffragettes. Peek carefully around the side of the Houses of Parliament and you’ll see the memorial to Emmeline Pankhurst, one of the leaders of the Suffragette Movement.

Parliament Square is currently dominated by statues of men. Promisingly, it has been promised a statue of a woman in 2018 to mark the centenary. According to media sources, a female sculptress has been commissioned to create a statue of the Suffragist Millicent Fawcett. Whilst this is a great move, it seems sad that for so many years no women have graced Parliament Square. This is despite a history of female prime ministers and leaders in so many areas. In 2018, a statue of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled only(!) 68 years after he won Indian Independence. Us ladies on the other hand, well, we’re still waiting…

“A large part of the present anxiety to improve the education of girls and women is also due to the conviction that the political disabilities of women will not be maintained.”  Millicent Fawcett

You’ll find a blue plaque commemorating Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst at 50 Clarendon Road in Notting Hill. Fascinating Fact: This was where Emmeline raised ‘war babies’ during the first world war. These children were born out of wedlock and Emmeline looked after them and even adopted one.

If you want to explore these sights in more detail, I recommend for adults this London Suffragette-inspired 2-hour self-guided walk by the Stylist magazine. There’s a bonus walk in Manchester too!

2. Suffragette Films set in London

This section and the next section contain affiliate links to some resources that you may find interesting. If you wish to purchase any of these resources through the links provided, I may receive a few pennies at absolutely no cost to you. Thanks for your support.

Suffragette

Watching a movie about the Suffragette Movement is a sure-fire way to engage children. The 2015 film, Suffragette, is the ideal place to start with older children. Rated 12A in the UK, this film raises many excellent discussion points as well as bringing to life some of the conditions experienced in early 20th century London. It’s a bit slow at the beginning and some teenagers may be turned off at the thought of a historical drama… So preceding it with a discussion about women’s rights and/or one of the other activities mentioned in this blog may help keep them interested. There are some distressing scenes of violence: against women by male police officers and force-feeding. Try to use these and the death of Emily Davidson by the King’s Horse as discussion points to get your children engaged and thinking.

Mary Poppins

For younger children and on a much less serious note, is Mary Poppins. Yep, good old Mary Poppins! The film is mostly light-hearted and whimsical. But the character of Mrs Winifred Banks is probably the first London Suffragette character most children ever come across.

Throughout the film, we see Mrs Banks marching off to campaign for Votes for Women. At the beginning of the 1964 Disney film, Mrs Banks is so consumed by her politics that she barely has any time for her children, hence the hiring of Mary Poppins!

Ask your children why they think the right to vote is so important to her that she puts campaigning above her own family. Mrs Banks’ theme song, Sister Suffragette, is one of the first songs of the movie and is all about the suffragette movement. If your children are KS2 / middle school age, discuss with them the difference between Mrs Banks’ (a rich middle-class woman) involvement and enthusiasm for the Women’s Rights movement and her resigned, tired female servants who have no time to go out campaigning as they are stuck in the house working all day.

3. Inspirational Books about Suffragettes

Opal Plumstead by Jacqueline Wilson

This exciting page-turner by one of the UK’s best-loved children’s authors is an excellent introduction to the Suffragette Movement. The eponymous Opal Plumstead is growing up the 1910s and, as the result of a family tragedy, has to start work at a factory. Once in the workplace, the fourteen-year-old meets some inspirational characters including Emmeline Pankhurst and her life becomes entwined with the Suffragette Movement.

Things A Bright Girl Can Do by Sally Nicholls

This young adult book called Things a Bright Girl Can Do published in 2017 follows the lives of three courageous young girls as they join both the peaceful Suffragist and the militant Suffragette Movements to fight for Votes for Women. The novel follows the girls from polite drawing rooms to poverty-stricken slums and prison cells as they fight for women’s freedom. Well-written, captivating and bold, the author doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of being a suffrage activist, like forced feeding and hardship.

Emmeline Pankhurst by Lisbeth Kaiser and Ana Sanfelippo

I absolutely love the Little People, Big Dreams series. These hardback books are absolutely gorgeous! The combination of beautiful illustrations and simple text mean these inspirational stories are suitable for a whole range of age groups from toddler to ten! This book covers the inspirational life story of Emmeline Pankhurst from her childhood and into the Suffragette Movement. Read it to your daughters and then visit the statue of Emmeline in Victoria Tower Gardens next to the Houses of Parliament in London – she’ll be their new heroine!

4. Museums, Libraries and Events

Museum of London

Out of all of London’s museums, the Museum of London is the place to go to learn about the London Suffragette Movement. The Museum has a huge collection of memorabilia related to London Suffragettes and you can see some of the collection online. To celebrate the centenary of women getting the vote, a special exhibition called Votes For Women is running from February 2018 until January 2019. On display will be iconic London Suffragette related objects, including Emmeline Pankhurst’s hunger strike medal.

Family-Friendly Tips: The Museum of London has all the facilities you will need, from baby changing rooms to a cafe and ramps and lifts for strollers. Afterwards, children can let off steam in the nearby Barbican Centre. I last visited the museum in August with H (then aged 3). Although he loved many of exhibits (the Fire of London one especially), it’s very much more geared towards school-age children. Check out the website for free activity sheets and games to use during your visit.

The Women’s Library at the London School of Economics (LSE)

The Women’s Library currently based at the London School of Economics is an amazing resource for books and documents related to all waves of the feminist movement including London Suffragettes. The library is running a variety of exhibitions, talks and events to celebrate the centenary, called Suffrage 18. As an academic library, it is aimed at adults, but there are child-friendly events planned for May half-term. Check out their website for more details.

5. Websites about London’s Suffragettes

The British Library Website: For exploring primary sources about the Suffragette Movement, the British Library website is excellent. You can see copies of firsthand encounters of forced feeding, original pamphlets and excerpts of texts by Millicent Fawcett among others. The sources are best suited towards older children.

Parliament Website: The official UK Parliament Website has many online exhibitions and resources and downloadable leaflets. The leaflets could be a great resource for self-guided learning and/or project work about London Suffragettes.

BBC Bitesize: There are some excellent learning resources for 11 to16-year-olds on the BBC Bitesize Revision website. Aimed at KS3/GCSE students, there are useful ‘revision’ notes, activities and tests to consolidate learning. To complement the film Suffragette you may also want to watch a dramatisation of the real trial at the Old Bailey of Emmeline Pankhurst and discuss what the outcome of the trial meant for the Suffragette Movement.

Women’s Library LSE Website (launching in May 2018): In May 2018, the Women’s Library at LSE (mentioned above) will be launching a brand new online resources area, aimed at 11-18 years old. I’m looking forward to checking it out to learn even more about London Suffragettes and the overall Suffragette Movement.

Short on time? Why not pin on Pinterest to read for later!

I hope that you’ve found the ideas in this post useful. If you know of any other events or learning materials for children available. Please add them in the comments. I’d love to hear about them.