Today marks 100 years since the first women in Britain gaining the right to vote under the Representation of the People Act, 1918.
The act was passed after the world famous and fierce suffragette movement demanded that women should have the equal right to vote. A long and hard fight for equality finally came to a head for a proportion of women at the time.
Women over the age of 30 were now granted the right to vote along with men over the age of 21 and those in the military, over the age of 19.
There was still a worry that women would have more of a presence than men due to the war. Therefore they restricted the age limit to 30. However, women counted for 43% of the vote at this time.
Although this was an amazing achievement for the suffrage cause, there was still a lot more to fight for. After 10 years had passed, in 1928 women finally had voting equality when the age restriction was lowered to 21.
There is still a long way to go. In much more recent times the affects of inequality have come to light in the forms of most famously the gender pay gap and again the age of voting has been discussed year after year in government across the uk. Votes at 16 has become a major talking point for all parties for and against. Many see it as an opportunity to gain more votes from a younger generation.
Today marks #100years women's suffrage. But inequality persists #GenderPayGap. Broken voting system urgently needs reform including #VotesAt16 @MakeVotesMatter
— Vince Cable (@vincecable) February 6, 2018
Thank you to every single woman who has fought for gender equality over the last 100 years. And obviously so much more for us all to do to reach true equality. #100years
— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) February 6, 2018
It is clear to see that we have come a long way from the women of the suffragette crusade, with three out of four UK devolved governments being led by a female leader, Theresa May, Arlene Foster and Nicola Sturgeon.
We must all strive for equality of all kinds whether that be gender, race or religion.
Featured Image Credit: Pexels
Good article Abigail ♡ I’m sure you will strive to end the inequality in society. Well done to women past and present who keep up the good fight. But spare me the politicians and MSM who try to shine in the glory of others achievements whilst the pay gap persists and the WASPI Women struggle to get a decent pension.