However approaching the 20th Century women began to have occupations, extending their roles as just being plain housekeepers. It became common practice for women to pursue a career in medicine, teaching and nursing, as more opportunities were available thanks to pioneering figures such as Florence Nightingale. Thus, several organisations were established involving women who wanted to have their voices heard. National Union of Women’s Suffrage in 1896 who became known as the Suffragists and Women’s Social and Political Union in 1903 established by Emmeline Pankhurst who became known as the Suffragettes were founded, campaigning for women’s emancipation and suffrage.
To achieve suffrage was a huge challenge, especially against a completely male government and parliament. No political party could afford to support the women’s campaign for vote. Conservatives were against the idea and the Liberals were afraid that they would lose their own support if they did back women’s suffrage. They were also concerned about how the women would vote if they were given the right to, as they would likely vote for labour. The Labour party even though they did support women, however lacked enough power and were still unhappy that a third of the men, mostly lower and working class did not have the vote. This was another problem for the suffragists and the suffragettes because many thought that the third of the men should have the right to vote before considering women’s suffrage. Even the monarchy was against the idea- Queen Victoria was strongly against women’s rights.
Another reason why women failed to gain the right to vote was the methods of protest. The NUWSS protested by peaceful means, through negotiations. Encouraging civil disobedience was as extreme as their protests got. Their protest was very ineffective and failed to put pressure on the government. On the other hand the WSPU resulted to too extreme methods of protest, even through physical means of threat and violence. These types of behaviour from women were unheard of before, and shocked the nation, as their means of protest became more and more drastic. This period between 1911 and 1914 was known as the Reign of Terror, led by Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters Cristabel and Sylvia, in which women carried out acts such as arson, arrested and put to prison to stand before trial. They continued their strike in prison too. Such drastic events shocked the nation even further. However this was to no avail- the government could not give in to them as it would encourage other extremist organisations to emulate their actions.
Some matters were trivial such as Lloyd Geroge bing attacked by women then stripped on golf courses, which was a statement against the male-dominated political system as golf was a strict masculine sport.
