For Women, For Wales and For Liberalism

Women in Liberal Politics in Wales, 1880-1914

By (author) Ursula Masson

Publication date:

01 February 2010

Length of book:

288 pages

Publisher

University of Wales Press

Dimensions:

216x136mm

ISBN-13: 9780708322536

This book explores the neglected history of women who were active in Liberal politics, campaigning for women's rights, the vote, and a full role for women in Welsh public life, at the end of the nineteenth century, and before the First World War. The over-arching argument of the book is that Welsh women's Liberal politics was distinctive, in its attempt to integrate an understanding of Liberalism which they shared with their English counterparts, and which included the aim of full equality for women, with a distinctively Welsh political agenda, and constructions of Welsh national identity. These constructions sometimes included a positive view of women in the nation, but in times of political crisis redefined gender on a more reactionary model.