Biography, Politics, Women's History

Mrs EM King – Campaigning for Women’s Rights Pt 1

Mrs King withdrew from public life between 1875 and 1881 … She resumed her polemical role in public addresses and publications, the most notable of which was her pamphlet, Rational dress; or, The Dress of Women and Savages … In November 1882 she announced that the Rational Dress Society would stage a Rational Dress Exhibition in the following year. As a probable consequence of her too radical views on dress reform, she was displaced as secretary of the Rational Dress Society in early 1883. She immediately announced the formation of a competing organisation, the Rational Dress Association, which would stage the Rational Dress Exhibition which had been abandoned by the Society. The exhibition, held in Princes Hall Piccadilly, opened with an address by Mrs King and ran from 18th May to 12th June, 1882.[8] Though there were large attendances and some reviews were favourable, the extensive newspaper and journal coverage was predominantly hostile.

Biography, Event, Politics, Women's History

The Centenary of the Women’s Suffrage Movement

On 24 June 1914, Eileen left her lodgings with a green dressing box and paper-wrapped parcel and walked to Nottingham Market place where the royal visit by King George V was taking place. Police officers in the area noticed Eileen’s suspicious behaviour around the royal stand and questioned her at the scene about her activities and connections to other militant suffragettes. Eileen admitted to being Irene Casey, the militant suffragette of the same name who was wanted for not returning to Leeds Prison in October 1913. Detectives arrested Eileen and took her to Guildhall for further questioning where they found on her person 20ft of fuse wire, a detonator and five quarter-pounds of cheddite, along with other items as shown in [an] incredible list [held at The National Archives] …

Event, Politics, Women's History

Women, Politics, Parliaments – Bringing about Democracy

Just as men do not accept that the right to vote is sufficient – Parliamentary representation must be possible for all men, or at least all men are entitled to seek parliamentary places – neither do women accept that the vote is enough. Democracy means that women and men must have the right to vote for women or men as members of Parliament. Democracy means that women and men must have the right to stand for Parliament.