Prior to Emmeline Pankhurst’s actions towards equal voting rights, women had no say in any elections in the United Kingdom. Although there were many organisations and parties fighting, petitioning and protesting for women’s voting rights at the same time as Pankhurst, none quite took the risk she did. Her choice to take a strong militant approach in order to achieve her goal far outweighed the petitions and protesting of smaller, weaker groups. Pankhurst risked her life and the lives of those who joined her on her quest including her family. Pankhurst endured prison sentences where she subjected herself to hunger strikes all to gain the attention of the Government, to prove her determination. For these reasons Emmeline Pankhurst is highly regarded in the United Kingdom, because of her courage and determination she was able to stand for her nation, and fight for what she believed.
This courage and determination she displayed formed the basis for the creation and passing of all new laws regarding women’s rights to follow. Therefore allowing for other women of the United Kingdom to, in the future to challenge government decisions and acts. Including the Equal Pay Act 1970, which British women inspired by the actions of Pankhurst were able to confront and fight for. This proving Emmeline Pankhurst demonstrated and changed the understanding of women in the United Kingdom, by alerting them to equality as men and allowing them to realize they to deserve to fight what they believe, contributing to national history.
Although Pankhurst heavily influenced other British women, the ideas and female power demonstrated by Pankhurst was also recognized and valued internationally. With the United Kingdom allowing equal voting rights for men and women in 1928, women of other countries, inspired by Pankhurst’s actions took stands in their own countries. For example during the twenty five plus years that Pankhurst devoted her time to being a suffragette, large dominant countries such as America too were fighting to achieve equal voting rights for men and women. Emmeline Pankhurst had travelled to the United States during her time protesting. She communicated with and convinced the American women the need for women’s equal rights. The militant tactics shown by Pankhurst spurred a more progressive movement by the American Suffragettes that caught the attention of the United States Government and the public. As a result of Pankhurst’s influence and inspiring words to American suffragettes, the women’s movement gained more power. Therefore together American and British suffragettes shared their tactics, improving their fight and eventually through the inspiration of Pankhurst, American women were granted the right to vote, equal to men in 1920. Consequently proving Pankhurst’s contribution to international history.
Although Pankhurst heavily impacted and influenced global decisions in regard to politics and political equality, she also empowered and changed the interpretation of women throughout the world. Pankhurst’s actions created further opportunities for women everywhere to feel power and speak up for what they believed in, whether that be a personal or communal issue. Pankhurst’s determination inspired women of the world, and that has contributed to the world of today. Today throughout most of the world women posses the same rights as men. There is no discrimination on the basis of gender in the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States and other major continents. Women now have a freedom of speech and do not have to resort to militant tactics to capture the attention of governments. Throughout the world women are leading countries, states and provinces, earning equal pay to men, and are not discriminated like they were prior to actions taken by women like Emmeline Pankhurst. Pankhurst assisted in the shaping of women rights and place today throughout the world, through her strength and will power to achieve equality. Her actions influenced and formed the basis of future decisions in regard to women and their rights.
In conclusion the courageous and inspiring acts of Emmeline Pankhurst to achieve equal rights for men and women, allowed for not only women of the United Kingdom but women of the entire world to feel empowered and inspired by her actions and strength. Therefore allowing them to speak freely of their concerns and fight for their rights, shaping the world and view of women today. Because of Pankhurst’s efforts, the brave actions of the women suffragists are now recognized as political and just throughout the world, contributing to national and international history.
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