Race, Female Suffrage, and Parliamentary Representation in the Global South

History & Policy

Carole Spary - University of Nottingham

9 February 2018 - 10:15 am - 14:45 pm
Palace of Westminster, London SW1A 2PW

How can global and historical movements for women’s political rights provide models for achieving racial and gender equality in the British political arena?

On the centenary of the 1918 Representation of the People Act, this one-day workshop will explore the ways in which past and contemporary movements, especially featuring women of colour and women in the global south, can be applied to current issues regarding voting and parliamentary representation. The session will include papers delivered by a number of historians and social scientists, whose discussions will draw upon examples that include Australia, Brazil, the Caribbean, India, and South Africa. Sam Smethers (Chief Executive, Fawcett Society) and Frances Scott (Founder, 50:50 Parliament) will also provide discussion on current policy and campaigning practices. Through collaborative discussion between academics, policy-makers and political activists, the session will consider the ways in which these global and historical movements can be used to attain greater equality and diversity in the British political arena.