Force-Feeding the Suffragettes

Force-Feeding the Suffragettes

Women's Rights

Many of the Suffragettes of the 18th Century were imprisoned for going against the law to achieve women's rights. The imprisoned suffragettes went on hunger strikes; to avoid death liability the women were force-fed just like the illustration shown here. The women who refused to eat were denied early release by the government. Many of the imprisoned suffragettes looked towards each other for support, shared readings and beliefs of justice along with injustice with one another. The way force feeding would happen is that the women would have a sheet draped over them, below the neck, then, the men would insert a steel gag in the mouth of the woman. After the men would find a gap, they would insert a steel instrument into the gap, causing immense pain onto the women being force-fed.

Will Dyson

British Library

The Daily Herald

May 24, 1913

Periodical, Illustration, Image

Periodical, Illustration, Image