Hosted by historian Amanda Vickery, this three-part BBC documentary (originally titled Suffragettes Forever!) centers on the long struggle for women's rights in England. After replaying the notorious archival footage of suffrage activist Emily Davison walking onto the track of the 1913 Epsom Derby and being struck down by King George V's horse, Vickery's energetic, wide-ranging survey begins in earnest with a look at a 17th-century march by Levellers in favor of women's legal recognition, before proceeding chronologically to cover such icons as Mary Wollstonecraft (who published A Vindication of the Rights of Woman in 1792), Hannah More (who established schools for girls and promoted philanthropic activity), and John Stuart Mill (who agitated in favor of female equality even as Queen Victoria opposed it). The radical suffragette movement is introduced near the end of the second episode, focusing on Emmeline Pankhurst, whose Women's Social and Political Union spearheaded the civil disobedience and violence that led to Davison's fatal act. The final episode continues the narrative up through the career of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, while noting that much remains to be done to truly achieve full equality. Vickery is a vibrant host who makes skillful use of archival material—artwork, cartoons, photographs, and film footage—while also visiting pertinent locations and interviewing knowledgeable scholars. Offering a fine introduction to the history of the modern feminist movement in British society, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)
The Story of Women and Power
(2015) 182 min. DVD: $34.99. Athena (avail. from most distributors). SDH captioned. ISBN: 978-1-62172-442-61. Volume 31, Issue 1
The Story of Women and Power
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