Account for the emergence of first wave feminism in Australasia in the 1880s and 1890s.

University Degree Historical and Philosophical studies

Account for the emergence of “first wave feminism” in Australasia in the 1880s and 1890s.

The role of females in society has changed drastically over the centuries. With women stereotypically seen as inferior to men, only being fit for certain jobs , whilst the status of “breadwinner” for the family was left to the males. The Global movement of feminism changed this view. First wave feminism hit the shores of Colonial Australia during protests across the world for equal rights between the sexes and voting rights for women.

First wave feminism in Australia and New Zealand was at the forefront of the feminist movement across the globe with New Zealand being the first colony to allow their women citizens the right to vote. “New Zealand, oh my country, I thrill with pride the day, to think where Nations pause and shrink, Again thou lead’st way” – David Will. M. Burn 1893 The North Otago times. This extract from a poem which was published in the North Otago Times in 1893 shows the pride in which the Nation held as the first colony to let women vote. First Wave Feminism emerged in Australia in an attempt to reinstall morals in the Colony, equalize the rights between the sexes , gain suffrage for women and also free them of Social and Political Oppression.

The role of women during the 18th century was very minor having almost no control over their own lives, with their father having full control over their lives until they were married in which it was passed onto their husbands. Women had little rights, they were not allowed to leave there husbands if displeased, they were not allowed to attain higher education and had no rights to their children in the case of the death of their husband. “By Marriage the husband and wife are one person in law, that is the very being or legal existence of women is suspended during marriage”- William Blackstone 1765. This Quote by Blackstone shows supports the view of women having no control of there life as the control is passed on from her father to husband. As the 19th century rolled over women became more aware to their rights and founded The Women’s rights movement in which they fought for equality. As British women were immigrating to Australia, they brought with them their beliefs on Women’s rights through magazines and newspapers which included articles about the Women’s Rights movement which was going on in Britain, many Australian Newspapers printed their own articles in support of the Women’s Rights Movement whilst others named the articles merely as “jokes” . By the early 1880s there were some small changes such as primary schools attended by boys and girls, however much remained the same which resulted in women protesting for suffrage, because they believed that little would change if women did not receive the vote. This was the early beginnings of women in Australia’s journey to equality and the emergence of First Wave Feminism in Australia.

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There were many different organization which rallied together during the First wave of Feminism in Australia. This included the Women’s Christian Temperance union who aimed to constrict the selling and consumption of Alcohol, concerned about the effects of alcohol abuse on a family, whether it be the mother or father, and also aimed to reinstall morals into the colony. They also aimed to raise wages for women in the workforce, due to low wages many women were turning to illegal acts such as prostitution. The women’s Christian Temperance union contribution to first wave feminism is arguably, with many people believing their impact being large as they provided majority of the support for women in Tasmania and Western Australia who wanted to gain independence, equality and suffrage, as there was no suffrage Organization formed as of yet in these colonies. However other historians such as Doctor Anne Summers who specialized in female history in Australia states that the ” contribution of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union was important and influential however often overstated”, as it was the only women’s society at the time to keep records of the activities. There was also the Women’s Union which was formed in the late 1890’s and the Female Employee’s union which was formed in 1891, both brought attention to the poor standards of working areas for women. William Lane wrote about the poor conditions of women in the workplace in Australia during the late 1880’s “ The position of women in the cities of the Colony s becoming worse and worse every year. They are becoming herded in stifling workshops and ill-ventilated attics”

In 1882, after the drastic rise of teen pregnancy, many of whom were unable to support themselves let alone their child, and the large number of young women found working in Brothels across South Australia, a group of men and women in formed the Suffrage League of South Australia and protested to the Parliament to raise the age of consent for girls to have sexual intercourse from thirteen to sixteen, in an attempt to lower these numbers. The parliament of South Australia agreed to having the age of legal consent from thirteen to sixteen. Once winning the right to raise the age of consent the Suffrage movement of South Australia protested against other laws which were discriminatory against women. Like many other colonies in Australia, the Suffrage movement of South Australia aimed to franchise women as they realized that without the right to vote, there would be little change and improvement.

During 1884 there was an influx of crime against women ranging from domestic violence to random attacks on streets, in Melbourne. Henrietta Dugdale and many other women claimed that the men who committed these crimes served sentences which were not fit for the crime or did not get sentenced at all. With this Henrietta and Annie protested themselves organising a meeting in which they discussed how to deal with these crimes, as the police and parliament were turning a blind eye. “It is much greater offence in the eyes of the law to steal a coat than to abuse a women, even to the risk of her life.”. A Statement made by one of the women who attended this meeting. This was the first meeting of the Victorian Women’s Suffrage Society. The Victorian Women’s suffrage society aimed to

Louisa Lawson was another prominent figure in the feminist movement in Australia. After divorcing from her husband, Louisa moved to Sydney with her Children, as a single mother with little education Louisa Lawson tried to gain a living of stewing, however later brought a printing press with which she wrote and released “The Dawn” a monthly magazine for women which described itself as “ a journal for the household, edited printed and published by women”. Lawson wrote in “the Dawn” of the injustice in which women faced in a world in which men were dominate in both Social and Political life. The Dawn played a large part in educating women on their rights. Lawson also formed the Dawn Club which was a social reform club for women. In 1891 the Womanhood suffrage league was established in New South Wales , the leagues secretary was Rose Scott, who was from middle class Australia. Scott promoted women to be apolitical, which was one thing which differed women from men in Politics. The feminist view which was shared by Scott was that not being attached to a political party allowed women to influence politics more effectively, as they did not have to worry about loyalty to a certain party. Rose Scott encouraged women to “think for yourselves, belong to no party, accept no dictation as to your vote” . She also like Suffrage league in South Australia protested to raise the legal age in which girls could work in Brothels from 14 to 18, the Parliament of NSW agreed to this bill easily. In 1891 the Women’s suffrage of NSW started a competition requesting women to write in reasons why women should get suffrage, printing many of the answers on the front page of the newspaper. Many women believed that through enfranchising women, politics would become a more honest environment.

By the early 1890’s, every Colony in Australia had their own feminist movements calling for equal rights. These societies organized rallies and petitions in order to allow a bill to be passed in Parliament about Women gaining suffrage, the petition for this bill in Victoria was the largest petition ever handed to the legislation with a massive 30 000 signatures from “ordinary women” to prove that It was women throughout Australia who wanted the vote, and was known as the “monster petition”. By the late nineteenth century and the early twentieth century all the colonies of Australia granted their women the right to vote and also made them citizens. South Australia led the colonies allowing their women who were citizens to vote 1894, followed by Western Australia in 1899, New South Wales 1902, Tasmania 1903, Queensland 1905 and finally Victoria in 1908, Aboriginal women however were still excluded from this vote.

In conclusion the main reason for the emergence of First Wave Feminism in Australia during 1880’s-1890’s was due to the popularity the feminist movement was getting in other parts of the World particularly Britain, as many women from Britain immigrated to colonies in Australia in search of a new lifestyle. With them they brought their views on equality between the sexes. Many of the women’s organizations which first wave feminism thrived on were organized to fix unjust actions in the Colony towards, the women occupant of the colony. First wave feminism had a positive effect, restoring moral standard’s into Colonies, in which women were treated as chattel of men and were subjected to many prolific crimes by their male counterparts who saw females as inferior. First Wave Feminism in Australia, opened a door of opportunity for women to enter the political domain as equals to males which was a first in Australian History.

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Name : By Telesia Sakaio.

S00119317.

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Inserra, Rose. Pioneer Women 1820-1900 . (Heinemann Library 2004) p.g 24

World Books documenting History. Women’s right to Vote. (World Books 2011) p.g 25

Oldfield, Audrey. Australian Women and the Vote (Cambridge University pess 1994) p.g 5

Oldfield, Audrey. Australian Women and the Vote ( Cambridge University press 1994) p.g 5-6

Oldfield, Audrey. Australian Women and the Vote (Cambridge University pess 1994) p.g 6

Magarey, Susan. Passion of the first wave feminist. (University of New South Wales press 2001)

Oldfield, Audrey. Australian Women and the Vote. (Cambridge University Press 1994)

Summers, Anne. Damned Whores and Gods Police. (Penguin Books Australia 1994)

Oldfield, Audrey. Australian Women and the Vote. (Cambridge University Press 1994) p.g 13

Magarey, Susan. Passions of the first wave feminist. (University of New South Wales press 2001) p.g. 27

Summers, Anne. Damned Whores and Gods Police. (Penguin Books Australia 1994) p.g 396

Inserra, Rose. Pioneer Women 1820-1900 . (Heinemann Library 2004) p.g 27

Summers, Anne. Damned Whores and God’s Police ( Penguin Books 1994) p.g 412

Oldfield, Audrey. Australian Women and the Vote. ( Cambridge university press 1994)

. The Australian National University.

Dixison, Marion. The Real Matilda (Penguin Books 1984)

Account for the emergence of first wave feminism in Australasia in the 1880s and 1890s.

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