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Votes for women air balloon, 1909
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Votes for women air balloon, 1909
Votes for women more in the air than ever: the suffragettes dirgible for the opening of Parliament. Armed with a megaphone and handbills, Muriel Matters and her air balloon intended to travel above the route of the royal procession for the opening of Parliament. However, the Illustrated London News reported that it was necessary to keep the balloon so high over Westminster that it was almost invisible. Date: 1909
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Media ID 14143169
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans
Balloon Demo Demonstration Matters Muriel Opening Parliament Procession Publicity Route Stunt Suffrage Suffragette Suffragettes Votes Rights
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Votes for Women Soar High: Muriel Matters and the Suffragette Air Balloon Stunt, 1909 In the spirit of bold and innovative activism, the British suffragette movement took to the skies in their quest for women's right to vote. Among the most daring of these demonstrations was the suffragette air balloon, piloted by suffragette leader Muriel Matters during the opening of the British Parliament in 1909. Matters, armed with a megaphone and handbills, intended to travel above the route of the royal procession, drawing attention to the suffrage cause from an unconventional vantage point. However, the Illustrated London News reported that it was necessary to keep the balloon so high over Westminster that it was almost invisible to the crowds below. This photograph captures a moment in history when the suffragette movement, fueled by determination and creativity, defied societal norms and took to the skies to demand their rights. The air balloon stunt, though not as visible as intended, served as a powerful symbol of the suffragettes' unwavering commitment to securing the vote for women. The Edwardian era, with its rigid social structures and gender roles, provided a challenging backdrop for the suffragette movement. Yet, women like Muriel Matters refused to be silenced or sidelined, instead using unconventional methods like the air balloon stunt to bring attention to their cause. This image, a testament to the suffragettes' determination and ingenuity, offers a glimpse into a pivotal moment in the fight for women's suffrage in the United Kingdom. The suffragettes' perseverance paid off, as women were granted the right to vote in 1918, just nine years after this daring demonstration took place.
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