Suffragette in America: Reflections on Prisoners, Pickets and Political Change

This book is a collection of Sylvia Pankhurst's writings on her visits to North America in 1911-12, where she met striking laundry workers, visited female prisoners, and grappled with racism. It marks an important stage in the development of the suffragette's thought and was brought back to Britain to inform the working-class suffrage campaign.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 20 May 2019
Publisher: Pluto Press

This captivating collection of Sylvia Pankhurst's writings delves into her remarkable journeys to North America in 1911-12. Unlike the conventional suffragette tours that aimed to secure financial support from progressive members of America's social elite, Pankhurst took a bold and unconventional approach. She immersed herself in the lives of striking laundry workers in New York, paid visits to female prisoners in Philadelphia and Chicago, and confronted the stark reality of racism in Nashville, Tennessee.

Pankhurst's unwavering dedication to the cause of women's suffrage earned her the admiration of socialist students and progressive politicians alike. However, what truly captivated her was the stark contrast between the idealism of American society and the darker underbelly that she encountered. Drawing upon her own experiences of imprisonment and misogyny from her political work in Britain, she found profound similarities between the two countries. These previously unpublished writings serve as a significant milestone in the evolution of suffragette thought, which Pankhurst brought back to Britain to shape the burgeoning working-class suffrage campaign.

In addition to Pankhurst's personal accounts, the book also features a contextualizing introduction by Katherine Connelly, providing valuable insights into the historical and social context of the time. This insightful compilation offers a unique perspective on the struggles and triumphs of the early feminist movement, shedding light on the enduring legacy of Sylvia Pankhurst's activism and dedication to gender equality.

Weight: 278g
Dimension: 213 x 146 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780745339368