Kitty Marion

Kitty Marion (Katherina Maria Schafer) c. 1913

Kitty Marion (12 March 1871 – 9 October 1944) was a German-born British actress and suffragette. She is best known for her militant activism in the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) and her later work in the United States advocating for birth control.

Early Life

Kitty Marion was born Katherina Maria Schafer in Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. She moved to England in 1886 to live with her aunt and uncle. Marion initially pursued a career in music hall entertainment, becoming a successful actress and singer.

Suffragette Movement

Marion joined the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in 1908, inspired by the militant tactics of the organization. She quickly became involved in direct action, including arson and window smashing campaigns. Marion was arrested multiple times and endured force-feeding while on hunger strike in prison.

Notable Incidents

One of her most famous acts of militancy was the arson attack on the Hurst Park Racecourse grandstand in 1913. This act was part of a broader campaign of property destruction aimed at drawing attention to the suffrage cause.

Emigration to the United States

In 1915, Marion emigrated to the United States, where she continued her activism. She became involved with Margaret Sanger and the birth control movement, distributing literature and advocating for women's reproductive rights.

Later Life and Death

Marion continued her activism into her later years, focusing on issues of women's rights and reproductive health. She died in New York City on 9 October 1944.

Legacy

Kitty Marion is remembered as a dedicated and militant activist who played a significant role in both the British suffrage movement and the early birth control movement in the United States.

See Also

• Women's Social and Political Union
• Suffragette
• Margaret Sanger
• Birth control