Sylvia Pankhurst

Abstract

Introduction: There is a current revival of interest in suffrage history because in 2003 we celebrate two anniversaries: the 100 anniversary of the foundation of the Women’s Social & Political Union (WSPU) and the 75 anniversary of the Act enfranchising women over 30. However there has been and continues to be a problem with suffrage history: its main interest is in leaders, not in the masses – which in the case of the suffrage movement consisted of countless thousands of working class women.