This did not stop them, they were becoming more violent each time, as they saw that none of their tactics worked, so they became more desperate, so they decided to be more aggressive this time round, they had broken all windows in the most populated places, such as Piccadilly, Oxford St. and Regent St. They also even attempted to blow up a Cinema. When this operation had also failed, they decided to use propaganda and decided to change their tactics and make a more subtle approach, reaching people through common sense.
The poster designed by the WSPU in 1912, propagates the in justice women had to face in that time towards not being able to vote because of their gender. The point the women are trying to put across is that ‘despite the fact that we are women, we are more useful and intellectual then men and can serve the country in many ways that men are not capable of doing’. They say that a women can be a Sophisticated Mayor in charge of the country, a mother responsible for bringing up the next generation, a factory hand serving the country, or even a nurse healing the wounded soldiers in a war, helping to win a battle. A teacher and a doctor should especially be getting the vote as a teacher is moral, understanding, caring and intellectual, as well as educating the generation to come. As for a doctor, she would also have similar personal qualities, such as being caring towards the patient, being witted, sophisticated, well educated and could also add to the war effort by helping to cure the soldiers back into health, perhaps even being the cause for a great victory of the country. Due to this, I think this is why these two types of women should specifically be able to vote, as they play an important part for the country. Regardless of how useful women can be, they still can not vote. But as for men, they showed how useless they are to the country and still were allowed to get the vote. For example, they could be a lunatic, a drunkard or even be unfit for service and not be able to serve the country in any way, and still be able to vote because of their gender. They protest against the sexist system of the government and want it to be more just.
The poster, in my opinion is quite biased even if it does show the injustice women had to face at that time. If women argued their points in a more fair way, it could have been more effective. But overall they were right to use propaganda and argue their points against the sexist society, and the way women are portrayed in society by men. The date the poster was produced in, is also quite important as in 1912 after their final aggressive acts in Piccadilly, Oxford St. and Regent St. and their attempt to blow up a Cinema was not successful, they decided to get through to people in a more subtle way, change their tactics and get through to the public through common sense.
By: Saimecan Asya Ali 11/1
