The militant feminist movement in England originated in the late 19th century, with different coalitions coming together to advocate for women’s rights, especially pertaining to the right to vote and participate in government. The main group behind the militancy was the Women’s Social and Political Movement (WSPU), who adopted this tactic to further their agenda. With the start of the suffrage movement, groups peacefully protested and campaigned separately, attempting to obtain some forward motion. Initial goals for many was to allow women to make their way into the political sphere, to have their voices heard by the men in power. Often, government officials would make empty promises to the suffragists to quell their constant barrage of questioning and requests. The women obeyed the desires of the men in government, hoping their agreeability would result in positive actions for their cause. However, after several decades, it was clear that this tactic was failing. Historians make a point to emphasize that the women’s suffragette movement was peaceful for quite some time before transitioning to militancy. This change in tactic came as a result of decades of petitioning with no actual successes for their cause. It is important to note that while the movement did rely on physical action, they focused their damages on property rather than people. When enacting “violence” against other humans, it was typically as a result of the police force assaulting the women. The police did far more harm to the women than the women ever did to another person. To note: this is primarily focused on the WSPU’s actions and members, who were at the forefront of this movement, with a few outsiders mentioned as well.
