How did the feminist politics appear in the nineteenth century?

Résumé du document

The nineteenth century was very significant for women, mainly because they were at a turning point in their living conditions. It was ascertained that their place was at home and they were not able to think, unlike men. This situation was considered as unbearable by a growing number of women and a need for rights began to appear. Actually, the suffrage question, which means the extension of the franchise to women, became more and more significant to them. The involvement of women into politics increased through the nineteenth century as the need for change began to be felt. It leads us to the following question: how did feminist politics appear in the nineteenth century? Firstly, we will focus on the political background of the period. Then we will discuss the birth of feminist politics. Finally, we will deal with the evolution of these feminist political ideas. The political background of the nineteenth century Britain was mainly represented by the two political parties of that time, the Whigs and the Conservative party. The Whig party governed Britain for most of the nineteenth century with leaders like Henry John Temple and the Viscount of Palmerston. Whig ideology was influenced by John Locke's contract theories, which meant that government was not established by God. Whigs began to be referred to as the Liberal Party and William Gladstone became their leader in 1866. He tried to “impose his own self discipline and sense of Victorian Christianity on the nation. He also did his best to assure ‘laissez faire' economic policies.

Extraits

[...] To conclude, we have seen the evolution of the feminist politics through the nineteenth century. Even if the political background was not so favourable, the birth of feminists took place. Despite the lack en enthusiasm from men, women's ideas managed to rise little by little thanks to women like Helen Bright Clark who did their best to spread feminist ideas and feminist politics. The fact that these women were rather well organised was certainly one the reasons which explained the evolution of this movement. [...]

[...] Women were struggling to obtain the right to vote after years of struggle and the help of men like John Stuart Mill. Lydia Becker, for example “helped to form the Manchester Society for Women's Suffrage, and for many years she wrote and lectured on the ‘struggle', organised several petitions which were presented to MPs at the House of Commons, and for twenty years edited the ‘Women's Suffrage Journal'”[22]. The determination of women was proved by the creation of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies and Mrs Millicent Garrett Fawcett was its president. [...]

[...] This reveals the reactions of men in front of this women's movement, which were certainly not very welcoming, due to the fact that feminist politics were viewed as a threat by men. Also, Helen Bright Clark tried to convince women that the fact that they were not allowed to be part of the political life was unacceptable, she said all women everywhere to examine whether it is just or beneficial to anybody that should be entirely overlooked and excluded in matters which so deeply affect them”[17]. [...]

[...] Also, we must bear in mind that they were not allowed to hold property and that the money they had belonged to their husband as it with case with the life and career of Caroline Norton who had no property because she was a woman and consequently had to give all the money she earned to her husband. Her story inspired Barbara Leigh Smith to publish Brief Summary, in Plain Language, of the Most Important Laws Concerning Women' in 1854. Consequently the main claim of women in the nineteenth century was the right to hold property and the right to vote, which explains their growing involvement in feminist politics. [...]

[...] Then we will discuss the birth of feminist politics. Finally, we will deal with the evolution of these feminist political ideas. I. The political background of the period The political background of the nineteenth century Britain was mainly represented by the two political parties of that time, the Whigs and the Conservative party. The Whig party governed Britain for most of the nineteenth century with leaders like Henry John Temple and the Viscount of Palmerston. Whig ideology was influenced by John Locke's contract theories, which meant that government was not established by God. [...]