2018 marks the centenary of The Representation of the People Act 1918, which introduced the franchise to women over the age of 30 who met a minimum property qualification. While not constituting the franchise on an equal basis with men, the Act of 1918 is widely accepted as having been a significant precursor to the eventual Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act of 1928.
The GWL collections feature a wide variety of books and objects relating to the Suffrage movement but our range of postcards is arguably the most visually arresting. Both for and against women’s suffrage, they have pictures and slogans that are often shocking and grotesque.
We Want Our Vote! (20th Century) by Valentine's Company Ltd.Glasgow Women's Library
Babies and children appear often on the anti-suffrage postcards and are used to infantilise Suffragettes...
Mummy's a Suffragette (20th Century)Glasgow Women's Library
... as well as to remind the public of women’s traditional role of mother and caregiver. Children and husbands suffering because of a Suffragette in their family is a common theme in anti-suffrage postcards.
There's no end to a Woman's Tongue (20th Century) by Corona Publishing Co.Glasgow Women's Library
Physically holding or harming a woman’s tongue or forcibly keeping her mouth shut is another common theme in the anti-suffrage postcards.
Some aren’t obviously related to the Suffrage movement but appeal more to the desire to keep women in their place and keep them quiet.
Dear Ruby, I wish I could tell you (20th Century) by E.S. LondonGlasgow Women's Library
These very visceral depictions of silencing women are sometimes at odds with their cheery messages of greeting, as can be seen on the reverse of this ‘Dear Ruby’ postcard.
Reverse of 'Dear Ruby' postcard (20th Century) by E.S. LondonGlasgow Women's Library
The text on the reverse of this postcard reads: '[Dear Ruby, I wish I could tell you] That I should be glad to see you home to our entertainment on March 7th as I am in it. May’
In the early 20th century, postcards were a quick, cheap and easily accessible form of communication. At the time many of these postcards were delivered, there might be up to four deliveries of mail a day in the countryside and as many as eight in the cities, so postcards and letters were a much used means of communication and faster than we might think of today.
What it will come to (20th Century)Glasgow Women's Library
Sometimes the use of the postcards actually subverts the message intended from its imagery.
For instance, this postcard portrays a woman on a bicycle with an anti-suffrage tone but the message on the back tells a different story...
Reverse of 'What it will come to' postcard (20th Century)Glasgow Women's Library
The message on the back recounts one woman’s experience of learning to ride a bike and how useful and enjoyable she found it. The text on this postcard reads: ‘I saw one similar to the card few days ago, very comfy I should say, especially in windy weather. I learnt the bike last week & find riding useful & enjoyable.’
This Is The "The House" That Man Built Pro-Suffrage Postcard (20th Century) by ‘BB London’: Birn Brothers LtdGlasgow Women's Library
Many of the pro-suffrage postcards issued by the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) and the Women’s Freedom League (WFL) were photos of some of the inspirational women in the movement but some also had similar imagery and themes as their anti-suffrage counterparts.
This postcard is a response to an anti-suffrage postcard series that was based on the rhyme, 'This is the house that Jack built'...
This Is The "The House" That Man Built Anti-Suffrage Postcard (20th Century) by ‘BB London’: Birn Brothers LtdGlasgow Women's Library
This Is The "The House" That Man Built Pro-Suffrage Postcard (20th Century) by ‘BB London’: Birn Brothers LtdGlasgow Women's Library
... With an opposing message to the mocking tones of the anti-suffrage postcard, this poem outlines the desire for an equal opportunity to participate in politics and shows a man and a woman arm in arm. It ends with the lines, ‘In the Year – well we cannot exactly say when; But the brave Suffragette very shortly must get, Into “The House” that man built.’
This Is The "The House" That Man Built Anti-Suffrage Postcard (20th Century) by ‘BB London’: Birn Brothers LtdGlasgow Women's Library
But would it surprise you to know that the same publishers produced both postcards?
'BB London’: Birn Brothers produced both sets of postcards, catering to both pro and anti-suffrage supporters.
I want my Vote! (20th Century)Glasgow Women's Library
These postcards illustrate just how hard both sides fought for and against women’s suffrage and the postcards shown here reflect only a small proportion of the Glasgow Women’s Library collection. Although the fearmongering from the anti-suffrage campaigners ultimately lost out, it’s important to look back at these artefacts and observe how society has attempted to subdue and silence women.
