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Multidimensional Research Insights

ISSN: 0000-0000

Multidimensional Research Insight is an international scholarly journal of social sciences which provides wide, excellent cross-disciplinary research papers. It aims at increasing the generation of new self-integration knowledge with an emphasis on interdisciplinary research which harnesses interests cut across discipline to find solutions to local and global amplifications. The published journal is intended to enhance the probability of domain spanning and allow researchers to focus on the discovery of the connections on one field and others, and provide the overviews which are not partial.

Challenging Patriarchy: The Representation of Women’s Suffrage Movements in Early 20th-Century British Poetry and Drama

1Valerie Behiery

1BFA at University of Ottawa Master and PhD at McGill university in Montreal

Received: 07-Dec-2024 | Revised: 09-Feb-2025 | Accepted: 15-March-2025

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Abstract

This study examines the role of poetry and drama in the women’s suffrage movement in early 20th-century Britain, focusing on how these literary forms challenged patriarchal norms and advanced feminist activism. Through close readings of key texts—such as Sylvia Pankhurst’s “The Suffragette” (1911), Elizabeth Robins’ “Votes for Women!” (1907), and Cicely Hamilton's “How the Vote Was Won” (1909); the discussion explains how artistic and political resistance merge. Poetry the power of individual introspection-resulted in the emotional solidarity to redefine femininity, while drama, through ensemble performance, sought to galvanize the people and challenge society's structures. However, the study also reveals tensions within suffrage literature, particularly its exclusion of working-class and colonial voices, reflecting broader ideological and class divides within the movement. By situating these texts within their historical and sociopolitical contexts, the research underscores the transformative potential of literature as a tool for social change, while critically reflecting on the movement’s limitations. The study concludes with recommendations for future research, including intersectional analyses, transnational comparisons, and digital humanities approaches, to further explore the literary legacy of the suffrage movement. Ultimately, this work demonstrates how poetry and drama not only documented the fight for women's rights but also actively shaped its trajectory, leaving a lasting impact on feminist thought and activism.

Keywords

Women’s Suffrage, British Literature, Poetry, Drama, Patriarchy, Feminist Activism, Intersectionality, Sylvia Pankhurst, Elizabeth Robins, Cicely Hamilton.