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merricatct 's review for:
Suffragette: My Own Story
by Emmeline Pankhurst
The writing itself was somewhat detached - almost more of a daily log than a real autobiography. But that did not detract from the bravery and dedication of the suffragettes and their allies, nor from the frustrating sexism and misogyny they dealt with daily. I also loved this book because it makes you think about where to draw the line when fighting for one's rights. Is there even a line? Where does protest become revolution? Or insurrection?
Luckily, a lot has changed in just 100 years - enough that reading about the political reality of women at that time seems almost unbelievable. But there are some incredible parallels to our modern times that cannot be ignored. Specifically, Mrs. Pankhurst's often repeated statement that to truly fight for change, you have to hit them where it hurts - namely, property. That targeting mailboxes and golf courses can do far more than all the peaceful marches and banner-hoisting in the world. It immediately made me think of the recent and ongoing unrest in so many places over police brutality and violence against black communities - the media portrays the unrest as "riots", but are they not also following the militant suffragettes' example? That in order to truly gain the rights and equality denied to you, you must make your statement against property? It's the same question the suffragettes asked - why is safety of property considered more important than equal rights for an entire segment of society?
For a book written 100 years ago, regarding a different minority in a different country, there are certainly many parallels to what I see in the news almost every day. It really makes you think.
Luckily, a lot has changed in just 100 years - enough that reading about the political reality of women at that time seems almost unbelievable. But there are some incredible parallels to our modern times that cannot be ignored. Specifically, Mrs. Pankhurst's often repeated statement that to truly fight for change, you have to hit them where it hurts - namely, property. That targeting mailboxes and golf courses can do far more than all the peaceful marches and banner-hoisting in the world. It immediately made me think of the recent and ongoing unrest in so many places over police brutality and violence against black communities - the media portrays the unrest as "riots", but are they not also following the militant suffragettes' example? That in order to truly gain the rights and equality denied to you, you must make your statement against property? It's the same question the suffragettes asked - why is safety of property considered more important than equal rights for an entire segment of society?
For a book written 100 years ago, regarding a different minority in a different country, there are certainly many parallels to what I see in the news almost every day. It really makes you think.