A Biography by Paula Bartley - Ch 2: The Liberal Years

- Happily married, Emmeline and Richard reshaped their marriage to suit their political beliefs, going against traditional views- unity rather than wife 'under' husband
-  As a wife and mother, it is necessary to note that E.P began in these roles rather conservative, with little time to engage in political activities. She had five children between 1880 and 1889 who were mostly taken care of by servants.
- Her children were educated by a governess and their aunt, before attending high schools. They had wide access to books on philosophy, science, history and often read.
- E.P educated her children in politics, more than what school taught them. They were engaged in socialist endeavours (singing songs, handing out leaflets).
- Family in constant financial difficulties  
- Family home often had visitors regarding the suffragette movement, radicalism, House of Lords,  Republicanism, socialism, the new trade unionism and more.
- Pankhurst's broke off from the Liberal Party when they could not carry out its radical programme and joined the Independent Labour Party.
- ILP seeked to gin socialism through parliamentary practise rather than radicalism.
- Women's Franchise League was established on July 25th, 1889 - two aims:
   1) 'To extend to women, whether unmarried, married or widowed, the right to vote at Parliamentary, municipal local and other elections'
   2) 'To establish for all women equal civil and political rights with men'
- Although the WFrL did not last long, it gave E.P a greater awareness, and taught her strategies of policy and commitment.
- E.P's characteristics were demonstrated: emotional response to politics, commitment to fight against injustice, inability to compromise on her values/beliefs, willingness, individualism and her dedication to the alleviation of poverty.  

A Biography by Paula Bartley - Ch 1: Shaping a Life

I finally got my hands on a biography, 'Emmeline Pankhurst', by Paula Bartley, published in 2002 by Routledge.

• Pankhurst's militancy is partly attributed to her Manx heritage; Manx women, inhabiting the Isle of Man, had more legal and political rights than English and thus gained the right to vote in 1881.
• Emmeline had four sisters and six brothers (although the eldest died at only 2.5 years old)
• E.P's family fostered her 'commitment to suffrage and her emancipatory politics'.
• Her parents were committed to social reform so E.P was exposed to politics and was surrounded by intelligentsia her parents were acquainted with
• Emmeline's parents encouraged her to practically do something to stop injustices she was passionate about
• At the age of ten, E.P was affected by the Fenian Revolt whereby the leaders of the rebellion killed a police officer while escaping from a prison van.
• E.P stated, 'I had always been an unconscious suffragist. With my temperament and my surroundings I could scarcely have been otherwise'.
• Originally attended a boarding school- in her time, females were generally educated poorly- majority did not attend school but the Pankhurst's were wealthy enough to send Emmeline to school.
• Victorian ideal of a perfectly educated woman:  decorative, poised, empty-headed companion for a future husband.
• Emmeline married Richard Pankhurst in 1879 at the age of 21- he was 23 years older.
• Richard: middle class, radical idealist, committed to social reform. It has been said that 'she (E.P) had a smouldering fire, he kindled the flame'
• He was committed to women's suffrage, an active member of the Manchester National Society for Women's Suffrage
• It is misleading to suggest that it was Emmeline's parents or Richard who shaped her into the political activist she was, as she essentially developed a conscience of her own, however, they were substantial influences.