October 25, 1911, To the Editor of The Throne and Country

The sentiments Davison expresses in this letter are familiar ones—the nexus among women’s

rights, social evolution, sexual equality and human happiness. She touches briefly on an

ancient Aristotelian notion—that men and women are inherently one sex, differentiated

by differently expressed genitalia. In Le Livre des trois vertus Christine de Pizan [Italian-

French writer c. 1405] used this theory to argue that women could function as men, because

they have the heart and soul of men. Davison’s interpretation is less radical, but essentially

similar: both maleness and femaleness exist on a spectrum inherent in all humanity. This

letter uses the present and future tenses to underscore the progress happening “now” and the

promise this progress holds for an even better, more equal, and free, future.

Sir, –In the article in your issue of October 4th, headed ‘The Feminine Outlook,’ which

professes to expose the Suffragette soul, the writer, Ray Holland, loses ground the whole

way through ignoring a most essential fact of human nature. He bases his theory on the

erroneous supposition that the Woman Suffrage Crusade is anti-man. This false premise

accounts for such an absurd mis-statement as that ‘Miss Suffragette says from the platform

that she can do entirely without man.’

As a Suffragette myself, I absolutely and categorically deny this assertion. I have

never myself, nor have I ever heard any other Suffragette, utter any such absurdity. What

we are always insisting upon our platforms, in season and out of season, is the fact that this

crusade of ours is not Feminist, is not anti-man, but that it is for the good of the whole

human race, and that it is necessary for evolution. This fact we put before our audiences in

every possible way, that it is in the man’s interest, as well as our own, that we should be

enfranchised, able to develop to our full potentialities, able to become the fine mothers of

fine children. Hence we ask for and receive the co-operation of men in our quest.

The elemental fact that Mr. Ray Holland is overlooking is that in every man there is

something of the woman, in every woman there is something of the man, and happily so, as

otherwise there could be no mutual understanding. The point has lately been brought

forward considerably by German psychologists and philosophers.

But even your author acknowledges that man does want intellect in his chosen

woman. Having tasted the sweets of companionship with a really thinking woman, he

really no longer cares for the doll or the drudge. Why? Because a higher part of his nature

is vibrating to the new companion. A more unselfish tinge is coming into his field of

thought. He is no longer conscientiously content to merely keep in subjection and protect

one woman. He has a feeling of compassion for the unprotected women, who have no

power to rise. He also begins to realize how much more glorious, how much more

interesting a creature this new companion may be. And I can promise him as a Suffragette

that his surmises will be fully justified.

We who have passionately worked in this movement are amazed to behold the

results already evident in our own ranks. We never realized for one moment what

immense possibilities there were in women, once they had a chance to develop them. The

marvellous talents displayed by our women in organization, in originality, in every special

department of life, have astounded us. We feel that all that had been lacking was self-

confidence, and that is coming with success. What a mine of power has been neglected by

the nation. It is now being opened up. The nation is only now beginning to realize the

great future which lies before it with freedom for all, women as well as men. Yours, etc.,

EMILY WILDING DAVISON

31, Coram Street, W.C.

October 12, 1911