After 1870, things continued to change gradually. In 1871 the first women were admitted to Cambridge University but were not allowed to do the same degrees as men. In 1873 divorced women could now see their children. In 1884, a woman was no longer seen as a chattel (possession) of her husband. However, women were still unequal and they were still denied equal pay or opportunities in employment.
Around 1870, the tabloid press became available throughout the UK and this was a great benefit for the Women’s Suffrage campaign. The tabloid newspapers simply wanted to sell newspapers, as they do today, so they covered the campaign because it is interesting reading. This gave the campaign publicity, making it possible to attract followers through the media. Without publicity, the campaign would probably have failed because there would be no reason for politicians to take it seriously, whereas making the demands public forced answers to be given.
By 1870, counties such as the USA, New Zealand, parts of Australia and the Isle of Man (even part of the UK). Women in Britain could see these women voting and they wanted to be allowed the same freedoms, and have the same influence on society. Mrs Emmeline Pankhurst, a leading suffragette, said, “First of all it is a symbol, secondly a safeguard, and thirdly instrument.”
Women had seen three Reform Acts giving to vote to more and more people, but they were still without the vote for any women. In 1832, the Great Reform Act gave the vote to half a million middle-class men, so now not only landowners could vote. The Second Reform Act in 1867 gave the vote to 2.5 million male householders out of a total 22 million. Westminster MP, John Stuart Mill, made the first plea for women’s suffrage in parliament. The Third Reform Act in 1884 gave the vote to nearly all men, including some working class but there were still no votes for women. Women could clearly see that with the expansion of votes to most men, their position in society had improved and this further encouraged them to demand the vote because they knew there position would also improve.
After 1870 a campaign developed throughout the UK, followed by both men and women. By 1897, all little clubs joined together to create the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies. The society was well organised, led by Millicent Fawcett. He society’s aim is to get rid of all inequality and the vote is seen as an important step towards achieving this.
