Case Study: Millicent Fawcett

Born: 1847 Died: 1929 Occupation: Women’s campaigner Claim to fame: Led the largest law-abiding suffrage society, the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS)

Image: LSE Library Millicent Garrett was born in , to changing situations as the campaign Suffolk, the younger sister to Elizabeth unfolded. From 1912, she worked Glossary Garrett Anderson. In 1867, Millicent closely with the Labour Party, when it The National Union of Women’s married , a professor became the fi rst parliamentary party to Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) – This of political economy at Cambridge endorse a separate woman’s suffrage acted as a large umbrella organisation University. That year, she joined the bill. This contrasted with the WSPU for many hundreds of regional fi rst executive committee of the newly leadership, who refused to work with suffrage societies that shared its founded London National Society for any political party. federation rules and values, including a commitment to law-abiding methods Women’s Suffrage (LNSWS). At the age of 66, in 1913, Millicent took of campaigning. It had its own Millicent supported an increase in part in the NUWSS Suffrage Pilgrimage, newspaper, The Common Cause. women’s access to education, helping when women marched on Hyde to found Newnham College, Cambridge. Park from across the country – some Feminist – a person who supports She wrote biographies, articles and walking all the way there from Carlisle. the idea of equal rights for women books on politics and economics. Millicent famously gave an impassioned (on the same basis as men) in all areas She supported many feminist speech in Hyde Park and took part in a of life on the basis of the equality of campaigns but believed that they deputation to the Prime Minister. the sexes. should be kept separate to women’s Millicent suspended NUWSS suffrage campaign for suffrage. work to support the war effort in Questions 1914, but kept the society ready to Women’s suffrage 1. Why do you think Millicent kept campaigner resume the cause. In 1917, Millicent and representatives from 24 suffrage the women’s suffrage campaign When the NUWSS was completely societies took a women’s suffrage separate from other feminist reorganised in 1907, Millicent became deputation to the new Prime Minister, causes? its president. Under Millicent’s Lloyd George. In March 1918, Millicent 2. What type of a role model was leadership, the NUWSS became a headed NUWSS celebrations when Millicent to other women then powerful and innovative society. She some women over 30 were granted the and now? helped to lead the NUWSS ‘mud vote under the Representation of the 3. Why is the title of the newspaper march’ – a suffrage procession that People Act. The Common Cause signifi cant? took place in 1907 in London and In 1919, Millicent retired from the inspired later, larger, more spectacular NUWSS leadership, aged 71, but In 2018 a statue of Millicent was unveiled processions. A brilliant tactician, Millicent remained active in women’s international in . Millicent’s statue is remained fl exible on ideas and open to politics. In 1925, Millicent was created a the fi rst of a woman to appear there. compromise, and was willing to adapt Dame of the British Empire.