One hundred years ago, on 6 February 1918, the Representation of the People Act 1918 was passed, which allowed property owning women over the age of 30 the right to vote.
Over the last few weeks there have been many events to mark the centenary of some women getting the vote. There have also rightly been various critiques of this celebration, not least from refugee and migrant women. There is a planned march on International Women’s Day on Parliament to demand safety, liberty and dignity for all women (under the hashtag #AllWomenCount).
In Sheffield, the Verse Matters collective has recorded a podcast with poems to mark this 100th anniversary in collaboration with Apples and Snakes North.
Our podcast is 3/3 (featuring Sez Thomasin, Vicky Morris & Rachel Bower). My poem is ‘A Quite Unsuitable Game’ – on the FA’s banning of women’s football from 1921 – 1971.
There are also fab podcasts from other women’s collectives in the North of England.
Thanks to Kirsten Luckins (Apples and Snakes North), Kiran MB, the Verse Matters Collective, Stuart Gibb, Vicky Morris and Geoff Beard for help with recording/researching/ organising!
Rachel Bower 