Alice Hawkins

Alice Hawkins

Alice Hawkins (1863 – 1946) was a prominent English suffragette and labour rights activist. She played a significant role in the early 20th-century movement for women's suffrage in the United Kingdom.

Early Life

Alice Hawkins was born in Stafford, Staffordshire, in 1863. She grew up in a working-class family and began working in a shoe factory at a young age. Her early experiences in the factory environment exposed her to the harsh conditions faced by women workers, which later influenced her activism.

Activism

Labour Rights

Hawkins became involved in the labour movement in the late 19th century. She joined the Independent Labour Party (ILP) and worked alongside notable figures such as Keir Hardie and Tom Mann. Her efforts were focused on improving working conditions and wages for women in the shoe industry.

Women's Suffrage

Alice Hawkins was a dedicated member of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), founded by Emmeline Pankhurst in 1903. The WSPU was known for its militant tactics in the fight for women's suffrage. Hawkins participated in numerous demonstrations, marches, and acts of civil disobedience. She was arrested multiple times for her involvement in these activities.

Legacy

Alice Hawkins is remembered as a key figure in the struggle for women's rights and labour rights in the UK. Her contributions to the suffrage movement helped pave the way for the eventual granting of voting rights to women. In 2018, a statue of Alice Hawkins was unveiled in Leicester to commemorate her contributions to the suffrage movement.

See Also

• Women's suffrage in the United Kingdom
• Independent Labour Party
• Women's Social and Political Union
• Emmeline Pankhurst
• Keir Hardie
• Tom Mann