What Do Historians Know About The Role Of Women In The Chartist Movement?

Historians often find it difficult to find out about the role of women in Chartism because of a number of reasons. The early Christian historians played down factors such as social occasions and tea parties. They didn't the contribution of women was serious and important. In addition, women were not prominent in the leadership of Chartism which is where most historical information comes from. Police avoided arresting women to avoid adverse publicity. Also, historical documents have been lost over time.

It was assumed that because the movement was merely concerned with "votes for men", women would not be interested. But some reasons given against this theory include the thought that the enfranchisement of men would improve their family's economic situation. Leaders such as Reginald J Richardson (who was in favour of votes for women) would have restricted cotes for women to widows and the unmarried because of his belief in the matrimonial covenant of two becoming one. He said there should not be political differences within the home.

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