Women in the UK have a privilege that many women elsewhere in the world are denied. A hundred years ago, our ancestors fought tooth and nail for our right to vote. They put themselves on the line and even threw themselves in front of horses, so we could have our say. Please remember this on polling day.
At the Royal College of Nursing last week, I was given the opportunity to hear the inspirational words of Helen Pankhurst, granddaughter of Sylvia Pankhurst and great-granddaughter of Emmeline. The Pankhurst family led the suffragettes who fought for women’s right to vote – suffrage – a century ago. As a feminist myself, being in a room with feminist aristocracy was something else.
In the run-up to the general election on 12 December, it was fitting that Helen talked about us exercising our right to vote. As feminists it is crucial we vote. We campaign all the time to end things like period poverty, and to get better protection for women in sex work. So voting in candidates who are more likely to hear us out, is vital to our activism.
Yes, everyone should be voting no matter what your gender. But it is so important for women to exercise our right to vote, because there is still so much to do to end women’s oppression. We may take voting for granted, but for many women globally it is still not possible. So do your ancestors proud and go out and vote tomorrow!
