The Scottish suffragettes and the press

This chapter investigates the coverage of the suffragettes in Scottish newspapers. The Scottish press focused on those it considered to be Scotland’s own suffragette leaders, framing suffragettes in Scotland and the authorities’ response to militancy as influenced by, but different from, what was occurring in England. Detailed coverage of meetings allowed pro-suffrage arguments to be circulated amongst the general public. Whilst maintaining traditional political allegiances, newspapers offered both sides of the argument through the use of correspondence columns. Women’s voices were also heard through the growing number of women reporters and columnists, some of whom were relied on to bring a pro-suffrage flavour to newspapers with a predominantly anti-suffrage editorial line. However, militant acts, rather than reasoned argument, sold newspapers and the oxygen of publicity also drove the tactics of the movement. The detailed and considered reporting of meetings and pro-suffrage arguments of earlier years was replaced in the years prior to the war by coverage of acts of militancy. Instead of discussion about the arguments for and against women’s suffrage, correspondence pages became the place to express anger and disquiet at militancy and even to call for acts of violence against the perpetrators.