Suffragettes were members of women's organisations in the late 19th and early 20th century which advocated the extension of the "franchise", or the right to vote in public elections, to women. It particularly refers to militants in Great Britain such as members of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). Suffragist is a more general term for members of the suffrage movement.
The term "suffragette" is particularly associated with activists in the British WSPU, led by Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst, who were influenced by Russian methods of protest such as hunger strikes. Although the Isle of Man had enfranchised women who owned property to vote in Parliamentary (Tynwald) elections in 1881, New Zealand was the first self-governing country to grant all women the right to vote in 1893 when all women over the age of 21 were permitted to vote in parliamentary elections. Women in South Australia achieved the same right and also became the first to obtain the right to stand for Parliament in 1895. In the United States, white women over the age of 21 were allowed to vote in the western territories of Wyoming from 1869 and in Utah from 1870, and in most states outside the South by 1919. With the ratification in 1920 of the Nineteenth Amendment the suffrage was extended to white women across the United States in time for the 1920 presidential election. Women over 21 were allowed to vote in Canada (except Quebec) from 1919.
Suffragette is a 2015 British historical period drama directed by Sarah Gavron and written by Abi Morgan. The film stars Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter, Brendan Gleeson, Anne-Marie Duff, Ben Whishaw, and Meryl Streep.
Filming began on 24 February 2014. It is the first film in history to be shot in the Houses of Parliament, done with the permission of MPs. The film was released in the United Kingdom on 12 October 2015 and had a limited release in the United States on 23 October 2015 by Focus Features.
In 1912, Maud Watts (Carey Mulligan) is a 24-year-old laundress. While delivering a package one day, she is caught up in a suffragette riot involving smashing windows, where she recognizes one of her co-workers, Violet Miller (Anne-Marie Duff). Later, Alice Haughton (Romola Garai), the wife of an MP, encourages the women from the laundry to speak out to parliament and give testimony in order to secure the right to vote. Violet is the one who offers to testify; however, she is beaten by her abusive husband and subsequently Maud is the one who testifies. Maud is energized by her testimony and goes with Violet and other women to see if women have been given the right to vote. When she learns that they have not, the police officers turn on the women and begin beating them. Maud is caught up in the crowd and is arrested for a week. While in jail, she meets Emily Davison, a confidant of Emmeline Pankhurst.
TE ESCRIBO ESTAS PALABRAS
PARA DECIRTE QUE TE QUIERO,
PORQUE FRENTE A FRENTE NO PUDE
SIMPLEMENTE NO ME ATREVO.
ME TIEMBLA TODO EL CUERPO
Y HASTA ME SUDAN LAS MANOS,
ES POR ESO QUE TE ESCRIBO
QUE ESTOY DE TI ENAMORADO.
POR MAS QUE INTENTO NO PUEDO,
EXPRESARTE LO QUE SIENTO,
NO VALLAS A PENSAR
QUE EN REALIDAD YO NO TE QUIERO.
SUFRO, PORQUE NO TENGO ESE VALOR
PARA DECIRTE QUE TE QUIERO
CON TODO MI CORAZON.
SUFRO, Y NO ME PUEDO CONFORMAR
QUE AUN TENIENDOTE TAN CERCA
NO TE PUEDA YO ABRAZAR...