الاكاديمية للدراسات الاجتماعية و الانسانية
Volume 14, Numéro 3, Pages 26-34
2022-02-04

Women’s Suffrage In Britain: Mobilization Of Women Voters During The Interwar Period

Authors : Graïne Lina .

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between the new women voters and political parties in Britain from 1918 to 1939. After a long fight, the women’s suffrage movement reached its main aim. This does not mean, however, that gender equality has been achieved. Suffragists expected a long, hard struggle, and that proved to be the case. During the 1920s and 1930s, the women’s movement was even more determined, which allowed certain legislative revisions. The interwar period is a key period in the histories of women and party politics in Britain because it was definitely a period in which women were increasingly involved in British politics. The increased participation of women in the world of politics meant that they would also be concerned with political parties, and these latter had to adapt to the new situation. Political parties were aware of the importance of having the largest number of women voters by their sides because their voices could be decisive. The aim of this paper is not only to discuss the relationship between women and party politics, but also to shed light on what has changed in party politics after some women gained the vote in 1918.

Keywords

feminism; interwar Britain; political parties; women’s suffrage