Starving Suffragettes

With the continuation of women’s suffrage, the document containing a speech given by Lady Constance Lytton at Queens Hall on January 31^st 1910.  This speech addresses the aspect of suffragettes involved in a hunger strike.  Lytton explains that the involvement of women during this strike is like using a weapon against the government.  She states that “these women have chosen the weapon of self-hurt to make their protest, and this hunger-strike brings great pressure upon the Government” (CP 226).  Lytton then confronts the government by accusing it of unreasonable, even torturous methods of abuse towards the suffragettes. Lytton explains that “when the Government retaliated with their unfair methods, with their abominable torture and tyranny of feeding by force, did you expect the women to drop their weapons” (CP 226).  Lytton goes on to provide a detailed account of the treatment she received from her “torturers” by explaining that she was forced to pour food down her throat, which created the sensation of choking (CP 227).  While telling her story, Lytton creates a perspective of the good and the bad.  The Suffragettes being good, and he Government being bad.  She creates a call to arms for women and does not stray from her views.  Her experiences of torture only fuel the fire of her words, and allow her to stay the course as well as convincing other women to do the same.   

Source: Womens History Coursepacket compiled by Dr. Wolbrink