Suffrage, solidarity and strife : political partnerships and the women's movement 1880-1930
This thesis is a study of six mixed-sex political partnerships, all of which functioned within the context of heterosexual marriage. It considers these partnerships involvement in, and attitudes toward, the campaigns for women' s enfranchisement over a fifty year period from 1880 - 1930. The aim of this study is to contribute to our understanding of the gendered nature of political activity and identity through an examination of the women' s suffrage campaigns, in particular the still under-researched, yet extremely important question of men's support for women' s suffrage. This thesis takes as its point of departure historical studies of gender, that is, a critical examination of the constructions of masculinity and femininity; ideas which have been informed and developed by women's history. It will consider the extent to which developments within the suffrage movement both challenged and reinforced gendered political identities and influenced attitudes toward the parts that men and women had to play in both the public and private spheres. The partnerships studied demonstrate not only the diversity of opinion within the women's suffrage movement but also how this single issue affected familial politics at
Balshaw, June Marion
HQ The family. Marriage. Woman ; JA Political science (General)
Suffrage, solidarity and strife : political partnerships and the women's movement 1880-1930. This thesis is a study of six mixed-sex political partnerships, all of which functioned within the context of heterosexual marriage. It considers these partnerships involvement in, and attitudes toward, the campaigns for women' s enfranchisement over a fifty year period from 1880 - 1930. The aim of this study is to contribute to our understanding of the gendered nature of political activity and identity through an examination of the women' s suffrage campaigns, in particular the still under-researched, yet extremely important question of men's support for women' s suffrage. This thesis takes as its point of departure historical studies of gender, that is, a critical examination of the constructions of masculinity and femininity; ideas which have been informed and developed by women's history. It will consider the extent to which developments within the suffrage movement both challenged and reinforced gendered political identities and influenced attitudes toward the parts that men and women had to play in both the public and private spheres. The partnerships studied demonstrate not only the diversity of opinion within the women's suffrage movement but also how this single issue affected familial politics at
suffrage solidarity strife political partnership woman_movement study mixed sex political partnership function_within context heterosexual marriage considers partnership involvement attitude_toward campaign woman enfranchisement period aim_study contribute gendered nature political_activity identity examination woman_suffrage campaign particular still under_researched yet extremely important_question men support woman_suffrage take point_departure historical_study gender critical_examination construction masculinity femininity idea inform developed woman history consider_extent development within suffrage movement challenge reinforce gendered political_identity influence_attitude toward part men_woman play public_private sphere partnership study diversity opinion within woman_suffrage movement also single issue_affect familial politics