Think of the women's suffrage campaign and the image which most readily springs to mind is of middle class, well off women taking to the streets demanding the vote.
Less is known about the thousands of working women who joined the cause. As well as risking jail and ridicule, they also risked their livelihoods ? there was no pot of money to help feed their families if they were in prison and couldn't work. In the run up to the centenary of the founding of the Women's Social and Political Union Woman's Hour talks to Jill Liddington, Mike Lucas, Mariane MacNamara about the sruggle of working class women and their contribution to the suffrage movement and the fight to win the vote. On 7th October 2003, Jenni Murray will Chair a special live debate to mark the centenary at the Women's Library in East London.
