It's All About Women...

Happy International Women's Day to women everywhere! IWD has been observed since the early 1900's with events held globally to inspire women, celebrate their achievements and focus on challenges still faced. Some countries have an official holiday with mothers, grandmothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc receiving flowers and small gifts from men and children. As the home of the suffragette movement, Manchester recognises the day with many events including walks, talks and exhibitions. Manchester Art Gallery has a small display as part of the Wonder Women: Radical Manchester, programme. A display of photographs, badges, sash and flag are displayed with 7 of 13 paintings that were damaged when Lilian Forrester, Annie Briggs and Evelyn Manesta smashed the glass of the paintings in the gallery on 3 April 1913. The women's intention was to break the protective glass only, unfortunately the broken glass caused damage to four of the paintings requiring restoration. The previous day suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst had been sentenced to 3 years for "inciting persons unknown" to burn down buildings. In protest, additionally to the gallery incident, women in Manchester poured ink into 11 post boxes damaging some 250 letters. Emmeline Pankhurst founded the Women's Social and Political Union with the slogan 'Deeds Not Words' and was instrumental in the introduction of voting rights for women. The Pankhurst Centre stands in the grounds of Manchester's Royal Infirmary on Nelson Street and is a small museum and meeting rooms. Mrs Pankhurst was born in Moss Side, Manchester in 1858, she and her daughters lived in the house between 1897 and 1907.