Women and the Peace Movement in Britain Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Women and the Peace Movement in Britain - Essay Example The essay "Women and the Peace Movement in Britain" analyzes the reasons why women did not make an individual contribution to British peace activist until the late 20th century.Though women have been quite instrumental in bringing the changes that led to movements for peace not just in Britain but across the world in the 20th century. The major reform that the Brits had achieved was the abolition of slavery in all the British colonies in the year 1833. This reform was particularly supported by the Christian women who had resolved to aid the movement by boycotting the usage of sugar which was the main export from the slave countries as they believed in the Christian philosophy of equality to all humans. This movement was the result of a long effort by William Wilberforce and Brougham along with their accomplices and Christian women in Britain and America as well. It is important to note that this movement to enforce the reform to end slavery in the world, particularly the British colo nies, had saved over a half a million African slaves. Another development was in the war front which has been quite active because of some major forces like Britain, Russia, France, Germany and almost all other countries of the world. War was on the verge of becoming the concept for social, political and economic strength for almost all of the countries of the world. Different countries and their respective allies had been taking to war increasingly and aggressively thereby changing the social and political scenarios in the world. and thus impacting the economic scenario the most which is the major factor effecting the people, their thinking and their life standards. By the mid - nineteenth century, political reforms had gained much momentum and some of them saw the light of the day after long periods and these reforms had been instrumental in giving the women some freedom from their earlier days of suppression. But still the conditions and the freedom of women was far from being si gnificant [1]. Not all women had been emancipated and the few who were enjoying freedom from the oppressive laws were miniscule even when the 'Custody of Children' bill had been passed in 1839 with much efforts by a much influential Caroline Norton and the then Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne. This bill gave the rights to custody of the child below seven years and permission to see the older ones' above seven to the mother