Why had the vote not been won by 1914?

Male attitude towards votes for women

Male prejudice still existed despite the arguments put forward by women’s groups.
A generally held view was that women in the later 19th century were considered to be second class citizens, physically, mentally and morally inferior to men and therefore incapable of voting. It was argued that women and men operated in different ‘spheres’ with their social roles being based on their differing abilities. While men were the protectors of family and the ‘breadwinners’ who had a role to play in government and professional life, woman by contrast, should focus on rearing the children and do ‘good deeds’ in charitable religious and educational work. As was said in a parliamentary debate in 1872, “we regard women as something to admire, to love . . . . she is the silver lining which lights the cloud of man’s existence.” Therefore, for many men there was no place for women in politics. Such attitudes of the majority MPs and working class men in British society delayed women’s suffrage as for it to occur they needed the support of the ‘dominant’ and powerful group in society i.e. Men.

Female attitudes towards votes for women

Very few women initially supported women’s fight for suffrage. In fact many women were strongly against giving women the vote or any form of education for women or rights. As Sarah Sewell, herself opposed to women’s suffrage said, “profoundly educated women rarely make good wives or mothers.” She continued that such educated women, “seldom have much knowledge of pies and puddings . . . . nor do they enjoy the interesting work of attending to small children.” Therefore, in her and many other women’s eyes, many well off middle class women were not even capable to be a mother never mind have the vote. Queen Victoria was also greatly against women’s suffrage and