Emmeline Pankhurst is considered the founder of England's suffragettes, a women's movement that fought for the right to vote and the political participation of women. Pankhurst devoted her entire life to the fight for women's rights. In 1903, she founded the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU). Under her leadership and that of one of her daughters, the WSPU developed into the militant wing of the English women's movement: »If it is right for men to fight for their freedom, it is right for women to fight for their freedom and that of their children.« Among her many comrades-in-arms were her daughters. Following the motto »Deeds Not Words«, the suffragettes drew attention to their demands with various demonstrations and actions. They organised numerous demonstrations, broke shop windows and set fire to empty country houses and churches. The WSPU emerged from the efforts of the suffragettes.

Fight for women's social and political rights

Pankhurst's efforts and political activism founded other women's movements around the world. Her theory of non-violent resistance was adopted by the women's movement in the USA. After radicalisation of the movement leading to arson and bombings, she and her daughters were arrested several times. Her social and political commitment was not broken.

Emmeline Pankhurst, Christabel Pankhurst, Adela Pankhurst, Sylvia Pankhurst, other women