#Emilymatters – No Vote, No Voice

Votes for Women!

On 6th February 1918, a select group of women won the right to vote. However, it took ten more years before all women had the same voting rights as men.

 

 

Yet today, so many don’t bother to use their hard won democratic right to vote.

At the last election 61% of women aged 18 to 24 didn’t vote.

 

 

Emily Davison, the Pankhursts and countless suffragettes and their supporters risked life and limb so that future generations of women would have an equal voice in society.

No vote, no voice. It’s as simple as that.

This is why projects like Bite the Ballot are so vital. They demonstrate that not voting puts you to the bottom of the pile when it comes to real progressive change.

And that’s exactly why the suffragettes and suffragists fought so hard for the vote.

Don’t be fooled by the old photographs the suffragettes’ brave battle for the vote was just a first step. Their cause is just as relevant today and their work is far from over.

Take the workplace – don’t get me started on equal pay and maternity rights.

 

 

So if you think your vote doesn’t count, think again.

Social media is a brilliant new way of campaigning and the suffragettes would have eagerly embraced it, but it won’t effect change alone.

It’s your vote in the Ballot Box that has the potential to make changes at the top – and better presentation of women in Parliament would be a start.

 

No vote, no voice. 

It’s your choice.

 

 

 

But don’t expect things to change for the better anytime soon if you don’t use your right to vote.

What do you think?

Have your say and join the ‪#‎Emilymatters‬ debate on Twitter right now.

We’ll be including questions from Twitter and Facebook during the live debate on 13 February, chaired by Jane Garvey.

Kate Willoughby
Actor & Writer of To Freedom’s Cause

 

USEFUL LINKS: 

Bite the Ballot are on a mission to empower young voters.

Whilst Let Me Vote_UK have all the information you need to get registered.

 

 “Emily Wilding Davison was a great campaigning feminist. Her struggle continues and she remains an icon for women even over a century after her death.”
Emily Thornberry MP, founder of the
Emily Davison Statue in Parliament Campaign

 

Special Parliamentary Performance & Debate Details: 

The debate:

The panel includes Dr Helen Pankhurst, great-granddaughter of Emmeline Pankhurst and granddaughter of Sylvia Pankhurst, Yas Necati, feminist campaigner and winner of The Guardian Women awards 2013: Best hope for the future (UK) and Emma Barnett (writer and broadcaster). The debate will be chaired by Jane Garvey (BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour presenter).

 

The play:
Brian Astbury directs an exclusive presentation of To Freedom’s Cause – a new play about one of the nation’s most important suffragettes – as part of a special Parliamentary event to promote the Emily Wilding Davison statue campaign.

 

This is the powerful story of people who encountered Emily,
who changed her life and whose lives she changed

 

Sign up:
Emily Davison is one of our most important feminist icons. Her legacy continues through current campaigns such as No More Page 3 and the Everyday Sexism Project. Sign the petition in support of the campaign calling for a statue of Emily to be erected in Parliament:

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/51269

 

Get involved:
Due to the location restrictions, this is an invitation only event.

A small number of tickets will be made available via Twitter.

Emily Davison was a pioneer in using modern media to promote direct political action. She believed that women and men had the right to be equal citizens.

Join the conversation now by following @2FCPlay and using #Emilymatters

 

 

 

Emily Davison’s legacy is for life, not just for 2013.