Why the votes for women campaign wasn’t really about votes at all

More than eight million women were given the right to vote when the Representation of the People Act was passed in February 1918.

However the key part of the campaign was not voting in and of itself, but rather the focus it forced politicians to put on issues that affected women. In the years that followed the act, legislation which affected women’s equality and rights went through Parliament touching on everything from maternal and infant health, to divorce reform and employment.

Political parties embraced women-friendly policies and male candidates changed their leaflets to address the larger electorate, appealing to women as voters rather than just voters’ wives.

The 1918 act gave permission to cast a ballot to women over 30 and with a property qualification – and men over the age of 21 – but it was also about evoking a change in politics which was underpinned by women’s broad interests.

The February 6 Act was followed by a second piece of legislation in November setting out that women could stand for election. The Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act however had no age restrictions – a woman aged 21 could stand for parliament, even though she was unable to vote for herself.

A general election took place the following month with women voting for the first time.

Mari Takayanagi, historian and archivist at Parliament, is the joint project manager of the Voice and Vote exhibition, Parliament’s centrepiece for the centenary and which takes place this summer.

“(All political parties) were keen to attract women voters,” she said. “There was a big effort to capture the ‘female vote’.

“MPs had women constituents for the first time. There was not a great deal of reason for them to think about women before, then suddenly almost half of their electorate are women.”

The 1919 Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act removed obstacles for women to take greater party in public life. They could qualify as lawyers, sit as magistrates and serve on juries. They could compete for civil service jobs alongside men.

A woman could petition for divorce more easily thanks to the 1923 Divorce Act while the 1925 Equal Guardianship Of Children Act put the welfare of the child at its centre. It gave increased rights to mothers in the event of divorce whereas beforehand the child would remain with the father – even if a babe in arms.

“There’s a raft of legislation in late teens and 1920s which is removing some of the sex inequalities and addressing women’s interests. There’s a greater awareness of women’s interests and that’s reflected in legislation.”

It was not until the Equal Franchise Act of 1928 that all women over the age of 21 were given the vote, the same as men. And it was 1958 before women could take a seat in the Lords.

“The act doesn’t revolutionise the political culture and system – it doesn’t lead to gender equality – but you see small victories for women,” added Dr Windscheffel.

“The 1918 act is quite limited but it has a knock-on affect. Its effects are still being felt now.

“Once you have women able to stand for Parliament it shows the absurdity of women not being able to take part in civic life.”