Women’s Civil Rights during the late 19th Century
During this period, progress in women’s civil rights was slow but there were several key figures and landmark legal changes:
The Women’s Property Act, 1882
Granted married women the right to own, manage and dispose of their own property independently. A major step towards financial and legal autonomy for women.
The Elementary Education Act of 1882
Expanded education opportunities for women and made schooling mandatory for young girls, aged 5-10.
This amendment increased the age of consent from thirteen to sixteen years old, aimed at preventing the exploitation of young girls.
One late night in Parliament Henry Labouchere and an unusually few amount of MP’s, introduced and passed section 11. This section made all homosexual acts of gross indecency illegal and resulted in the conviction and punishment of people such as Oscar Wilde and Alan Turing.
The Women’s Franchise League, 1889
Founded by Emmeline and Richard Pankhurst, Alice Cliff Scratcherd, Elizabeth Clarke and other leading suffrage activists. The Women’s Franchise League was amongst the first in fighting for married women’s right to vote rather than just single or widowed women.