Insults and scaremongering The suffragettes’ dramatic actions made headline news. They brought Votes for Women more publicity than ever before. They worried many suffragists and also alienated members of the public who thought women should not behave in such an unruly way. The Hastings press described them as “harridans” and “violent viragoes” and made fun of them in cartoons. Hastings’ insurance companies panicked when they heard the WSPU was opening a local office. They feared they would have to pay out huge insurance claims for broken windows.
ACTIVITY Peaceful or Militant? Think about the two different ways of campaigning. Which do you think would be most effective? List arguments for and against peaceful and militant campaigning.
19
