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21/03/2022 admin

Meet Emmeline

Emmeline is arrested in Victoria Street, London.

By M. Jaime, AIT English Language School

Hello! I’m Emmeline Pankhurst. I was born on 14th July 1858 in Manchester. When I was a teenager, I liked reading and politics, too. I was already interested in women’s rights!

When I was 15, I travelled to Paris to study there. I learnt about many different subjects that women could not study, like chemistry. It was so exciting!

As I grew up, I decided that I wanted to make a better world for women. Women’s life was very hard. Women could not have a good education, a good job, and they could not vote.

In 1903 I formed The Women’s Social and Political Union with my daughters to fight for women’s rights. We did many things, like demonstrations, speeches, and we even published a newspaper.

Emmeline at Trafalgar Square, London.

Emmeline at Trafalgar Square, London.

A meeting for women’s rights in Manchester.

A meeting for women’s rights in Manchester.

Emmeline is arrested in Victoria Street, London.

Emmeline is arrested in Victoria Street, London.

Fighting was not easy. We were arrested by the police on many occasions, and even one of the members of our group, Emily Davison, died.

But in 1918 we won! The British government gave some women the right to vote. It was just the first step, but it was great!

Your turn!

1. Find the meaning of the words in bold.

2. Test your knowledge!

  • When was Emmeline born?
    a) July 1958
    b) July 1968
  • Where was she born?
    a) London
    b) Manchester
  • Which of these groups did Emmeline start?
    a) The Women’s Social and Political Union
    b) The Women’s Institute
  • In the UK, when could some women vote for the first time?
    a) 1903
    b) 1918