While there are still millions of women in the world who do not enjoy the franchise, some of whom have absolutely no rights at all, even within their own families, generally speaking in Western countries women now enjoy the same legal rights as men. Yet, although we now take this for granted, it is a surprisingly recent development.

Recognisaible and legal rights for women only developed in the last century and not without a formidable struggle on the part of some noted heroines who became genuine martyrs for the cause.

Ironically, it was George III who spawned the first seeds of women's emancipation in his decision to tax the colonies in the mid-18th century when he introduced the Revenue Acts which were particularly punitive in the Americas.

Everything the colonists needed to survive in the fledgling 'new-world' - from paper and glass to linen and tea - faced crippling taxes. While women at the time had no rights outside what their men folk granted them, they developed a very strong voice in the struggling new communities and while the men kept up the physical fight, the women formed themselves into committees intent on boycotting everything British.

Tea was a valued commodity in the life of the settlers and enterprising women made up concoctions of herbs as substitutes - making tea one of the great symbols of the 'American Revolution'. This of course was epitomised by the famous Boston tea party when the revolution really got underway.

These random committees were called the Daughters of Liberty and gave women a strong political voice - but still no recognised political rights. It would take more than a century before the first real inklings of suffrage became evident. Meanwhile in Europe, especially in England, the suffragette movement was being led by Emily Pankhurst and her daughters.
Five times between 1886 and 1911 bills were introduced and defeated in parliament. Women chained themselves to railings and one even threw herself under the king's horse at the Derby and was killed.
	Emily Pankhurst at Trafalgar Square
The struggle was put into abeyance during the First World War where, after women played such a crucial role in the war effort, public opinion changed. Limited suffrage was finally granted in 1918 and fully in 1928.

At the same time, the 19th amendment to the American constitution gave women the right to vote in 1920. Despite this, women's movements persisted because the felt that women had not been truly 'liberated.'

A positive feminist movement was brewing in the sixties and in 1970 the Australian feminist Germaine Greer published The Female Eunuch, which instantly became a bible for feminists. This heralded a world-wide change in public attitudes and in America in particular many more feminists exploded in their wake.

Next Page>>>