The Suffragettes Vs. Suffragists

In the early 1900s, women in the United Kingdom were fighting for their right to vote. This fight was led by two groups of women: the suffragists and the suffragettes. Both groups had different methods and goals, but they both played an important role in getting British women the right to vote.

The suffragists were a more moderate group. They believed in using peaceful methods, such as petitions and speeches, to convince lawmakers to grant women the right to vote. The most famous suffragist was Emmeline Pankhurst. She founded the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), which was a leading organization in the fight for women’s rights.

The suffragettes were a more radical group. They believed that more aggressive tactics, such as vandalism and hunger strikes, were necessary to get results. One famous suffragette was Emily Davison. She famously threw herself in front of King George V’s horse at the 1913 Derby as a protest against the treatment of women in Britain.

Both groups faced opposition from those who did not believe women should have the right to vote. Suffragists and suffragettes alike were often jailed for their protests. But their efforts paid off; in 1918, British lawmakers finally granted women over the age of 30 the right to vote (this age limit was lowered to 18 in 1928). Thanks to the brave efforts of both groups of women, all British citizens now have equal voting rights regardless of gender or gender identity!