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You Daughters of Freedom: The Australians Who Won the Vote and Inspired the World
FOR the ten years from 1902, when Australia’s suffrage campaigners won the vote for white women, the world looked to this trailblazing young democracy for inspiration.
Clare Wright’s epic new history tells the story of that victory—and of Australia’s role in the subsequent international struggle—through the eyes of five remarkable players: the redoubtable Vida Goldstein, the flamboyant Nellie Martel, indomitable Dora Montefiore, daring Muriel Matters, and artist Dora Meeson Coates, who painted the controversial Australian banner carried in the British suffragettes’ monster marches of 1908 and 1911.
Clare Wright’s Stella Prize-winning 'The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka' retold one of Australia’s foundation stories from a fresh new perspective. With You Daughters of Freedom she brings to life a time when Australian democracy was the envy of the world—and the standard bearer for progress in a shining new century.
Clare Wright’s epic new history tells the story of that victory—and of Australia’s role in the subsequent international struggle—through the eyes of five remarkable players: the redoubtable Vida Goldstein, the flamboyant Nellie Martel, indomitable Dora Montefiore, daring Muriel Matters, and artist Dora Meeson Coates, who painted the controversial Australian banner carried in the British suffragettes’ monster marches of 1908 and 1911.
Clare Wright’s Stella Prize-winning 'The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka' retold one of Australia’s foundation stories from a fresh new perspective. With You Daughters of Freedom she brings to life a time when Australian democracy was the envy of the world—and the standard bearer for progress in a shining new century.
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Published January 1, 2019
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About the author
Clare Wright
16 books54 followersClare Wright is an historian who has worked as a political speechwriter, university lecturer, historical consultant and radio and television broadcaster. Her first book, 'Beyond the Ladies Lounge: Australia’s Female Publicans', garnered both critical and popular acclaim and her second, 'The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka', won the 2014 Stella Prize.
She researched, wrote and presented the ABC TV documentary Utopia Girls and is the co-writer of the four-part series The War That Changed Us which screened on ABC1.
She researched, wrote and presented the ABC TV documentary Utopia Girls and is the co-writer of the four-part series The War That Changed Us which screened on ABC1.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
November 21, 2018
Don't let the size and heavy cover of this book scare you off! Wright is rightfully famous for telling historical stories in the primary-source voices of those actually present, and this book is a fast and fascinating look at white women getting the vote in Australia. I learned so much and appreciated Wright tackling both the highs (triumph!) and lows (racism!) of the suffrage movement in Australia which made this country famous for several years for having the most advanced version of democracy in the world because it was so representative. I had the pleasure of talking with Wright about the book at her in-store event at Avid Reader (Brisbane) a couple of weeks ago, and I really admire her balance between hardcore-historian and entertaining-storyteller.
October 30, 2018
A painstakingly thorough history of the Australian women who pushed for the vote for (white) women in Australia and then took up the battle in the UK. It's thorough and rich in detail, but superbly readable - Wright knows how to tell a story. She has a rich cast of characters to help her - Vida Goldstein in particular should be a household name in Australia, but Dora Montfiore and Muriel Matters are unforgettable as well.
I was surprised how much of the book focussed on the UK struggles - Edith Cowan and Catherine Spence are fringe characters at best - this is about how newly enfranchised Australian women contributed to the bitter struggle for (some) women's voting rights in the UK.
The complex politics of the whole struggle are clearly laid out - the appalling racism of the nearly all of the Australians adds a grubby undertow to their triumphs, while the complex interplay between classes in the UK is brilliantly drawn.
It's long and detailed, but super readable.
I was surprised how much of the book focussed on the UK struggles - Edith Cowan and Catherine Spence are fringe characters at best - this is about how newly enfranchised Australian women contributed to the bitter struggle for (some) women's voting rights in the UK.
The complex politics of the whole struggle are clearly laid out - the appalling racism of the nearly all of the Australians adds a grubby undertow to their triumphs, while the complex interplay between classes in the UK is brilliantly drawn.
It's long and detailed, but super readable.
Read
August 3, 2018‘Clare Wright’s You Daughters of Freedom is the uplifting story of a time Australia led the world in including women in our democratic project. It is a reminder of our proud legacy and a clarion call for who we can be.’
Penny Wong
‘The essential story of our greatest reformers, and one of our proudest achievements as a nation.’
George Megalogenis
‘One of the country’s most accomplished story-tellers relates Australian women’s fight for the vote in all of its passion, intensity and drama.’
Frank Bongiorno, Professor of History, ANU
‘A thrilling tale, superbly told, of brave Australian women with a passion for politics.’
Judith Brett
‘A rare achievement. Grand, bold and brilliantly written.’
Mark McKenna
Penny Wong
‘The essential story of our greatest reformers, and one of our proudest achievements as a nation.’
George Megalogenis
‘One of the country’s most accomplished story-tellers relates Australian women’s fight for the vote in all of its passion, intensity and drama.’
Frank Bongiorno, Professor of History, ANU
‘A thrilling tale, superbly told, of brave Australian women with a passion for politics.’
Judith Brett
‘A rare achievement. Grand, bold and brilliantly written.’
Mark McKenna
September 1, 2019
‘The Australians who won the vote and inspired the world.’
I read and enjoyed Clare Wright’s ‘The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka’ in 2014, and while I’m not sure how I missed this book when it was first released last October, I was delighted to read an electronic copy of the 2019 edition.
In 1902, when one of my grandmothers was a Tasmanian child of 9, Australia’s suffrage campaigners won the vote for white women. Her first opportunity to vote would have been on 5 September 1914: which was called before war was declared in August, held after it commenced, and was our first double dissolution election. I wish I could ask what that meant to her.
In this book, Clare Wright tells the story of the Australian victory in the campaign for the vote for white women and goes on to tell of Australia’s role in the subsequent international struggle.
There’s quite a contrast between the way in which Australian women achieved voting equality and the battle by the British suffragettes. In Australia’s case, female suffrage had been granted by South Australia in 1894 and by Western Australia in 1899. After federation, in 1902 when the Commonwealth Parliament was debating who would be eligible to vote in the first federal election, they could vote either to extend suffrage to all women or to remove it from the already enfranchised women in South Australia and Western Australia. Withdrawal of suffrage would have threatened the newly formed federation, at least from a South Australian perspective. So, there’s a contrast between the relatively civilized way in which Australian women achieved suffrage and the violent battles in the UK.
‘Power concedes nothing without a demand.’ (Frederick Douglass)
The international struggle is told through the eyes of five women: Vida Goldstein, Nellie Martel, Dora Montefiore, Muriel Matters and Dora Meeson Coates. Dora Meeson Coates painted the controversial Australian banner carried in the British suffragette monster marches of 1908 and 1911, which now hangs in the Australian Parliament House in Canberra.
This is a fascinating story, which I read slowly over a fortnight. I had the bare bones of the history of Australian female suffrage, knew a bit about the fight for female suffrage in the UK, but knew little about the role that these Australian women had played. Perhaps my grandmother would be horrified about my lack of knowledge. We should be proud of these achievements, even though our pride should be qualified by the exclusion on Indigenous people from the franchise (as is noted by Clare Wright).
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for providing me with a free electronic copy of the 2019 edition of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
I read and enjoyed Clare Wright’s ‘The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka’ in 2014, and while I’m not sure how I missed this book when it was first released last October, I was delighted to read an electronic copy of the 2019 edition.
In 1902, when one of my grandmothers was a Tasmanian child of 9, Australia’s suffrage campaigners won the vote for white women. Her first opportunity to vote would have been on 5 September 1914: which was called before war was declared in August, held after it commenced, and was our first double dissolution election. I wish I could ask what that meant to her.
In this book, Clare Wright tells the story of the Australian victory in the campaign for the vote for white women and goes on to tell of Australia’s role in the subsequent international struggle.
There’s quite a contrast between the way in which Australian women achieved voting equality and the battle by the British suffragettes. In Australia’s case, female suffrage had been granted by South Australia in 1894 and by Western Australia in 1899. After federation, in 1902 when the Commonwealth Parliament was debating who would be eligible to vote in the first federal election, they could vote either to extend suffrage to all women or to remove it from the already enfranchised women in South Australia and Western Australia. Withdrawal of suffrage would have threatened the newly formed federation, at least from a South Australian perspective. So, there’s a contrast between the relatively civilized way in which Australian women achieved suffrage and the violent battles in the UK.
‘Power concedes nothing without a demand.’ (Frederick Douglass)
The international struggle is told through the eyes of five women: Vida Goldstein, Nellie Martel, Dora Montefiore, Muriel Matters and Dora Meeson Coates. Dora Meeson Coates painted the controversial Australian banner carried in the British suffragette monster marches of 1908 and 1911, which now hangs in the Australian Parliament House in Canberra.
This is a fascinating story, which I read slowly over a fortnight. I had the bare bones of the history of Australian female suffrage, knew a bit about the fight for female suffrage in the UK, but knew little about the role that these Australian women had played. Perhaps my grandmother would be horrified about my lack of knowledge. We should be proud of these achievements, even though our pride should be qualified by the exclusion on Indigenous people from the franchise (as is noted by Clare Wright).
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for providing me with a free electronic copy of the 2019 edition of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Want to read
September 20, 2019Netgalley
pub date Sept 19, 2019
Text Publishing
pub date Sept 19, 2019
Text Publishing
October 2, 2018
The amazing thing about reading Clare Wright’s You Daughters of Freedom is the switch from reading the wholly unfamiliar story of Australia’s history of suffrage to the familiar story of English suffragettes in Part III. How has this happened? How come we all know the story of the English suffragettes, but we don’t know about the Australian women (and men) who led the world into modern democracy with votes for women??
Well IMO there are two answers to that and only one of them is that until comparatively recently Australian history took a back seat to British history in the school curriculum. The other reason is that the mayhem and violence of the British suffragette campaign makes a more dramatic story than the story of the Australians who achieved votes for women with principles and logic and strategic nous. Hopefully You Daughters of Freedom will put the tabloid version in its place.
What will help with that, is Clare Wright’s pop-hist-doco style. This history is written with an eye to a young audience. She uses metaphors with jaunty panache, describing, for example, the 1902 Federal Parliamentary debate about who would qualify to vote as
Senator Pulsford, in the same debate, thought that WA and SA might in their wisdom consider it to drop woman suffrage (which SA had granted in 1894, and WA in 1899). This female franchise was causing trouble because SA was threatening to derail federation if their women were to lose it. Human rights had to be uniform across the nation, but the Parliament could hardly legislate that the enfranchised women of SA and WA could vote in the forthcoming first federal election, but not their sisters in the other states. So yes, as Clare Wright says, the senator was dreaming.
Much later, when the indomitable Australian women were over in England helping Englishwomen with their struggle to achieve the vote, Wright uses a pop term to describe the strategic savviness of the Australians:
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2018/10/02/y...
Well IMO there are two answers to that and only one of them is that until comparatively recently Australian history took a back seat to British history in the school curriculum. The other reason is that the mayhem and violence of the British suffragette campaign makes a more dramatic story than the story of the Australians who achieved votes for women with principles and logic and strategic nous. Hopefully You Daughters of Freedom will put the tabloid version in its place.
What will help with that, is Clare Wright’s pop-hist-doco style. This history is written with an eye to a young audience. She uses metaphors with jaunty panache, describing, for example, the 1902 Federal Parliamentary debate about who would qualify to vote as
like a game of citizenship Kerplunk: pulling out democratic planks and watching which marbles might fall through the gaps. (p.117)
Senator Pulsford, in the same debate, thought that WA and SA might in their wisdom consider it to drop woman suffrage (which SA had granted in 1894, and WA in 1899). This female franchise was causing trouble because SA was threatening to derail federation if their women were to lose it. Human rights had to be uniform across the nation, but the Parliament could hardly legislate that the enfranchised women of SA and WA could vote in the forthcoming first federal election, but not their sisters in the other states. So yes, as Clare Wright says, the senator was dreaming.
Much later, when the indomitable Australian women were over in England helping Englishwomen with their struggle to achieve the vote, Wright uses a pop term to describe the strategic savviness of the Australians:
The intransigence of the Liberal government had provided fertile ground for activism. Soon there was the Actresses’ Franchise League, with Cicely Hamilton at the helm, and the Writers’ Suffrage League. The WSPU [Women’s Social and Political Union] said that what was needed to wake up the nation was propaganda. Information and posters and badges, banners and essay and plays. A speech was one thing, and lord knows the suffrage leaders had made hundreds of those. But something to hold in your hand, or wear at your breast was another. They needed merch. (p.215)
To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2018/10/02/y...
August 4, 2019
I learned so much from this book. Like who knew that it was Australia who led the way for the English suffragette movement? I didn’t. I just assumed they were happening alongside each other, with little (if any) collaboration between the two countries.
I’m proud of this history. I’m proud to be an Australian woman benefiting from the work and terror endured by these women who came before me.
What I really liked is that this book is accessible. If you don’t ordinarily read non-fiction or even history, you’ll still enjoy this. Clare weaves the history into an addictive narrative. It’s far from the dry, political history texts of my school days.
I’m proud of this history. I’m proud to be an Australian woman benefiting from the work and terror endured by these women who came before me.
What I really liked is that this book is accessible. If you don’t ordinarily read non-fiction or even history, you’ll still enjoy this. Clare weaves the history into an addictive narrative. It’s far from the dry, political history texts of my school days.
September 18, 2018
This splendid book was sent to me by the publisher, Text, at no cost. It's out at the start of October.
Firstly, this is a hefty tome: it's 550 pages. But the text itself is only (?) 480 pages, and it must be stressed that this is an immensely readable book with generally short chapters that make the story very readable. So don't let the size put you off if this is a part of history that appeals to you.
If you know nothing about women achieving the vote in Australia or elsewhere, this is an excellent starting point. If, like me, you've read a bit already, this puts it all together in an excellent narrative, explores some of the most important characters, and sets it all in historical context magnificently. I also think you should read it if you're at all interested in Australia's early history as a nation.
I have a lot of Opinions on this topic. I think the fight for women's suffrage in the first part of the 20th century is endlessly intriguing. (In fact my latest zine is on this topic. Do you get my zine?) Wright does a really great job of showing how suffrage was achieved in Australia, and then the influence that had on the rest of the world.
You may have heard that SA women got the right to vote in 1894 - a year after NZ women. But here's the thing: because of an outrageous attempt by conservatives to be more radical than the progressives, which gloriously backfired, SA women were the first to also have the right to stand for election. Which most women around the world weren't asking for because they thought it was a step too far. And here's the other amazing thing: it included the right for Indigenous people of SA to vote. Oh yes. That's really quite amazing. And because of this, and some smart wrangling from the SA delegates to the Federation conferences, that right eventually got transferred to Australian women, at least for federal elections, in 1902.
Um. Except for Indigenous women. And this is one thing that Wright excels at: pointing out that what's being celebrated here - and it should be celebrated, certainly - is the right to vote and stand for elections for white women. It was an important step, and indeed was a revolutionary one for the world, but it wasn't complete enfranchisement. It should be noted that Wright includes in the book some of the arguments about extending the franchise to Indigenous women from the Senate, and... I found it very hard to read that language coming from our politicians, in public. Yes, even though most of them were supporters of the White Australia Policy and I've seen Frazer Anning's words. It was still sickening (so be warned). (The Indigenous population unreservedly got the right to vote in federal elections in 1962.)
Australian women fighting for the right to vote is only half the book. The rest is the way in which Australian women contributed to the struggle in "the Mother Country" (England) (where by comparison there was limited suffrage for women by 1918, and on the same basis as men only in 1928. I say 'only' but that's earlier than France, which was 1944.) I've read about Muriel Matters, who was amazing, and about Vida Goldstein (who supported the White Australia Policy and by golly those historical folks are complicated to appreciate). I've also read a lot about English women's activities in fighting for the vote. What I didn't realise is how influential Australian women specifically were, in working for the various organisations and inspiring particular actions, AND as inspiration in general. Because the other thing that Wright does splendidly is draw out just how much of a 'social laboratory' Australia was seen as in the first decade or so of the twentieth century. People in the UK and USA in particular were watching Australia, this new nation, as we tried new things and made them work (first Labour govt in the world, various somewhat socialist things, ladies voting...). Vida Goldstein was the first Australian woman to meet a US president! and so on. It's quite thrilling to see what Australian women were doing out in the world.
Finally, I also adored the final chapter, wherein Wright destroys the notion that Australia should see its participation at Gallipoli as the birth of the nation, and instead points out just how much it had achieved before then.
This book is amazing.
Firstly, this is a hefty tome: it's 550 pages. But the text itself is only (?) 480 pages, and it must be stressed that this is an immensely readable book with generally short chapters that make the story very readable. So don't let the size put you off if this is a part of history that appeals to you.
If you know nothing about women achieving the vote in Australia or elsewhere, this is an excellent starting point. If, like me, you've read a bit already, this puts it all together in an excellent narrative, explores some of the most important characters, and sets it all in historical context magnificently. I also think you should read it if you're at all interested in Australia's early history as a nation.
I have a lot of Opinions on this topic. I think the fight for women's suffrage in the first part of the 20th century is endlessly intriguing. (In fact my latest zine is on this topic. Do you get my zine?) Wright does a really great job of showing how suffrage was achieved in Australia, and then the influence that had on the rest of the world.
You may have heard that SA women got the right to vote in 1894 - a year after NZ women. But here's the thing: because of an outrageous attempt by conservatives to be more radical than the progressives, which gloriously backfired, SA women were the first to also have the right to stand for election. Which most women around the world weren't asking for because they thought it was a step too far. And here's the other amazing thing: it included the right for Indigenous people of SA to vote. Oh yes. That's really quite amazing. And because of this, and some smart wrangling from the SA delegates to the Federation conferences, that right eventually got transferred to Australian women, at least for federal elections, in 1902.
Um. Except for Indigenous women. And this is one thing that Wright excels at: pointing out that what's being celebrated here - and it should be celebrated, certainly - is the right to vote and stand for elections for white women. It was an important step, and indeed was a revolutionary one for the world, but it wasn't complete enfranchisement. It should be noted that Wright includes in the book some of the arguments about extending the franchise to Indigenous women from the Senate, and... I found it very hard to read that language coming from our politicians, in public. Yes, even though most of them were supporters of the White Australia Policy and I've seen Frazer Anning's words. It was still sickening (so be warned). (The Indigenous population unreservedly got the right to vote in federal elections in 1962.)
Australian women fighting for the right to vote is only half the book. The rest is the way in which Australian women contributed to the struggle in "the Mother Country" (England) (where by comparison there was limited suffrage for women by 1918, and on the same basis as men only in 1928. I say 'only' but that's earlier than France, which was 1944.) I've read about Muriel Matters, who was amazing, and about Vida Goldstein (who supported the White Australia Policy and by golly those historical folks are complicated to appreciate). I've also read a lot about English women's activities in fighting for the vote. What I didn't realise is how influential Australian women specifically were, in working for the various organisations and inspiring particular actions, AND as inspiration in general. Because the other thing that Wright does splendidly is draw out just how much of a 'social laboratory' Australia was seen as in the first decade or so of the twentieth century. People in the UK and USA in particular were watching Australia, this new nation, as we tried new things and made them work (first Labour govt in the world, various somewhat socialist things, ladies voting...). Vida Goldstein was the first Australian woman to meet a US president! and so on. It's quite thrilling to see what Australian women were doing out in the world.
Finally, I also adored the final chapter, wherein Wright destroys the notion that Australia should see its participation at Gallipoli as the birth of the nation, and instead points out just how much it had achieved before then.
This book is amazing.
May 24, 2019
Wow, a huge part of Australian feminist and political history that I knew so little about. This is an empowering and incredible read of the efforts of five key womemn in their fight for Votes For Wimen both in Australia and worldwide, but specifically in the UK.
Wright has been upfront throughout this volume that the suffrage movement won the votes for white women, and is mindful of Australia's ongoing oppression of Aboriginal Australia.
Names associated with suffragettes and suffragists worldwide are usually Pankhurst - but Nellie Martel, Muriel Matters and her memorable and daring endeavors, the disruption and occupy tactics of Dora Montefiore, Dora Meeson Coates' banner art, and tge indefatigable Vida Goldstein - these should be household names in Australia. Certainly if these deeds were done by men to win men's rights, they definitely would be.
The outline of legislative changes and reforms that came about in Australia not long after women had the vote is a powerful list. A list that protects us all, still, and shows the power of listening to the full (white) electorate.
The laughable science of yesteryear was an amusing sprinkling throughout - bicycle face and automobile face, being the permanent distortion of facial features from straining to operate pedals, being one such treat.
Many other gifts of knowledge and realisation are found in these pages: the blatant press blackout of the movement and their plight and events, rings true of many issues and their treatment today; that these women's names are not well-known in Australia is a sexist and misogynist shame of our nation.
The lengths these women went to, in the UK even when their own enfranchised status was confirmed in Australia, is extraordinary - chaining oneself to the grille in parliament, staging a home occupy over tax protest, the airship adventure over London, and all the many jail sentences and experiences. The census boycott and associated risks. Being pelted with eggs and vegetables when addressing a crowd of men about Votes for Women. I am in awe of these ladies - who each lived to a very grand old age. Power to them!
I have probably walked past Dora Meeson Coates banner in Parliament House in Canberra previously - I will definitely be seeking it out on my next visit.
I reserved this read for this month, being the federal election in Australia, and it was a powerful reminder how lucky we are to be able to freely have our say in the country - but now enriched knowing the women's stories behind that privilege is a new admiration and awe.
Wright has been upfront throughout this volume that the suffrage movement won the votes for white women, and is mindful of Australia's ongoing oppression of Aboriginal Australia.
Names associated with suffragettes and suffragists worldwide are usually Pankhurst - but Nellie Martel, Muriel Matters and her memorable and daring endeavors, the disruption and occupy tactics of Dora Montefiore, Dora Meeson Coates' banner art, and tge indefatigable Vida Goldstein - these should be household names in Australia. Certainly if these deeds were done by men to win men's rights, they definitely would be.
The outline of legislative changes and reforms that came about in Australia not long after women had the vote is a powerful list. A list that protects us all, still, and shows the power of listening to the full (white) electorate.
The laughable science of yesteryear was an amusing sprinkling throughout - bicycle face and automobile face, being the permanent distortion of facial features from straining to operate pedals, being one such treat.
Many other gifts of knowledge and realisation are found in these pages: the blatant press blackout of the movement and their plight and events, rings true of many issues and their treatment today; that these women's names are not well-known in Australia is a sexist and misogynist shame of our nation.
The lengths these women went to, in the UK even when their own enfranchised status was confirmed in Australia, is extraordinary - chaining oneself to the grille in parliament, staging a home occupy over tax protest, the airship adventure over London, and all the many jail sentences and experiences. The census boycott and associated risks. Being pelted with eggs and vegetables when addressing a crowd of men about Votes for Women. I am in awe of these ladies - who each lived to a very grand old age. Power to them!
I have probably walked past Dora Meeson Coates banner in Parliament House in Canberra previously - I will definitely be seeking it out on my next visit.
I reserved this read for this month, being the federal election in Australia, and it was a powerful reminder how lucky we are to be able to freely have our say in the country - but now enriched knowing the women's stories behind that privilege is a new admiration and awe.
August 3, 2021
An important and engaging tale of Australia's path to full female citizenship, and the women who made it happen.
Australia at the time of Federation is sometimes described as a 'social laboratory'. It was an optimistic nation, willing to experiment and try new forms of governance and laws to progress society. In a compelling narrative, Wright shows how Australian women gained full citizenship. Not only the right to vote (which NZ women had first), but also the right to stand for parliament and participate as full equal members of the democratic society.
Wright focuses particularly on several key women, such as Muriel Matters, Dora Montefiore and especially Vida Goldstein who should be a name every Australian knows. Women who helped push the change here in Australia and then, as many did at the time, moved to England, only to fall in with their British sisters' much more difficult struggle for suffrage.
If I have one small disquiet with this book, it is that so much of it is ultimately about those who 'inspired the world'. Only part one focuses on Australia, and some stories, such as Victoria's long hold out preventing the vote are nodded towards without detailed telling. For a book which rightly and proudly champions Australia as a proud equal on the world stage, in need of no martial baptism in Gallipoli, there's a sense of seeking legitimacy through emphasizing at length the somewhat modest roles Australian women played in the British struggle.
As Wright rightly notes, Gallipoli did not so much make the nation as break it. Australia became a much more cautious, conservative and inward looking nation. And too much of our early history is either forgotten, or distorted by the radical nationalists of the 1960s-1990s who were labouring under their own illusions and often partisan motives. In recapturing some of that history in fresh language and for a new generation, Wright provides a vital contribution.
An excellent story very well told. Recommended.
Australia at the time of Federation is sometimes described as a 'social laboratory'. It was an optimistic nation, willing to experiment and try new forms of governance and laws to progress society. In a compelling narrative, Wright shows how Australian women gained full citizenship. Not only the right to vote (which NZ women had first), but also the right to stand for parliament and participate as full equal members of the democratic society.
Wright focuses particularly on several key women, such as Muriel Matters, Dora Montefiore and especially Vida Goldstein who should be a name every Australian knows. Women who helped push the change here in Australia and then, as many did at the time, moved to England, only to fall in with their British sisters' much more difficult struggle for suffrage.
If I have one small disquiet with this book, it is that so much of it is ultimately about those who 'inspired the world'. Only part one focuses on Australia, and some stories, such as Victoria's long hold out preventing the vote are nodded towards without detailed telling. For a book which rightly and proudly champions Australia as a proud equal on the world stage, in need of no martial baptism in Gallipoli, there's a sense of seeking legitimacy through emphasizing at length the somewhat modest roles Australian women played in the British struggle.
As Wright rightly notes, Gallipoli did not so much make the nation as break it. Australia became a much more cautious, conservative and inward looking nation. And too much of our early history is either forgotten, or distorted by the radical nationalists of the 1960s-1990s who were labouring under their own illusions and often partisan motives. In recapturing some of that history in fresh language and for a new generation, Wright provides a vital contribution.
An excellent story very well told. Recommended.
October 22, 2019
This is unquestionably popular narrative history done well, with Wright focusing on the Australians prominent in the thrilling fight for British suffrage, rather than the process in Australia. Wright seeks to remind Australians that before ANZAC, Australia also saw itself as an influencer on Britain, and the book's rather enthusiastic title is taken from this self-image.
The history was a little too much narrative, and lighter on analysis, than I tend to prefer. Wright's coverage gives a great sense of who her five protagonists were, and in the process enlightens what kinds of lives many suffragettes lived.
Obviously, the book is about White suffrage. Wright highlights the centrality of White Australia ideas to white female enfranchisement but the book does not largely have in scope discussing views of women of colour - Australian or otherwise - regarding this. Aside from the obvious views of Aboriginal women - especially South Australians who voted in the 1896 election - had upon the fight that excluded them, it would also be interesting, given the ferocity of debates in Britain around limited vs "whole loaf" suffrage, to know whether the exclusion of Aboriginal women (and men) featured in the debates, as well as what is known of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women's approach to the franchise.
In Britain, Wright's focus is on how Australians are perceived, more than on the dynamics of the battles over suffrage. There are great anecdotes in here, and it serves well to remind us that national identity is in constant construction, but in the end it wasn't as thought provoking as I wanted it to be. However, I suspect, given the excitement Wright is capable of transmitting, that I will be fairly lonely in this.
The history was a little too much narrative, and lighter on analysis, than I tend to prefer. Wright's coverage gives a great sense of who her five protagonists were, and in the process enlightens what kinds of lives many suffragettes lived.
Obviously, the book is about White suffrage. Wright highlights the centrality of White Australia ideas to white female enfranchisement but the book does not largely have in scope discussing views of women of colour - Australian or otherwise - regarding this. Aside from the obvious views of Aboriginal women - especially South Australians who voted in the 1896 election - had upon the fight that excluded them, it would also be interesting, given the ferocity of debates in Britain around limited vs "whole loaf" suffrage, to know whether the exclusion of Aboriginal women (and men) featured in the debates, as well as what is known of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women's approach to the franchise.
In Britain, Wright's focus is on how Australians are perceived, more than on the dynamics of the battles over suffrage. There are great anecdotes in here, and it serves well to remind us that national identity is in constant construction, but in the end it wasn't as thought provoking as I wanted it to be. However, I suspect, given the excitement Wright is capable of transmitting, that I will be fairly lonely in this.
March 19, 2022
Very interesting
March 3, 2019
My appetite for this subject was whetted when I saw a preview of the musical "Sylvia" in London last year. It was the story of Sylvia Pankhurst and the struggle for women's right to vote. My daughter Julie gave me this book and I'm very glad she did. I now have a new cohort of heroes to add to me gallery. These women were courageous, creative and determined. ...and many of them were Australians. A great read.
March 1, 2023
A fascinating look at the Australian suffragist movement and key figures such as Vida Goldstein and Muriel Matters - women I did not, but should have known about. Sadly, in Australia we tend to know more about British or American figures of history due to their prominence in film and tv. Well worth a read. I listened to the audio book which was well told by the author.
May 26, 2020
A book for history buffs with a strong interest in Australian women on the international stage post Federation (1901).
I found it very detailed and interesting intially while Australia granted women the vote in the early chapters but once the focus shifted to England the strong direction of the story waned for me.
I did read it through ( it is also long with a very detailed bibliography) and appreciated the details and getting to know women who shaped our own country and the British system. I recommend it to people looking for a history of the early years of Federation peopled by both genders; remarkable women and men who worked to make the country in the early years
I found it very detailed and interesting intially while Australia granted women the vote in the early chapters but once the focus shifted to England the strong direction of the story waned for me.
I did read it through ( it is also long with a very detailed bibliography) and appreciated the details and getting to know women who shaped our own country and the British system. I recommend it to people looking for a history of the early years of Federation peopled by both genders; remarkable women and men who worked to make the country in the early years
August 5, 2020
Clare Wright, who is an Associate professor of History at La Trobe University in Melbourne, has the happy knack of making history, especially documenting the roles of women, fascinating, informative and highly readable.
I thoroughly enjoyed her previous book, The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka, which is the first in a planned Democracy Trilogy, about the impacts of Australian women in world history.
And so it was again for You Daughters of Freedom, a detailed account of the roles of five remarkable Australian women in achieving women's suffrage in Australia and Britain.
(I saw Clare speak about her work at Adelaide Writers Week in 2019, and she is as fascinating to listen to as to read. I have a signed copy of this book.)
Suffrage came relatively easily to Australian women, as determined female leaders were able to convince the men who made the laws at the time of Federation that Australian society would be enhanced by female participation in the new democracy. Note that I said "relatively', because it was a hard fought battle and not really quite so straightforward.
But the battle was much harder and more protracted in the Mother country, and key Australian female warriors certainly did their bit, well beyond the call, to assist their British sisters.
As the famous banner created by Dora Meeson Coates (now on display in the Australian Parliament building) stated, "Trust the Women Mother As I Have Done."
Wright has brilliantly captured the absolute determination, spirit, defiance, organisational skills and dogged persistence of women such as Vida Goldstein, Nellie Martel, Dora Montefiore, Dora Meeson Coates and Muriel Matters, who were all leading pioneers in the suffrage movements in Australia and Britain.
These feisty women had gumption that is to be admired and commended, being prepared to work hard, suffer physical and verbal abuse, endure time in jail accompanied by starvation and force feeding, multiple financial penalties as well as the rampant derision of significant portions of society, especially men in power, in their determination to win what they saw as an absolute right for women to vote and impact legislative outcomes.
Some were ultimately prepared to resort to violent and destructive actions, when politeness and persuasion failed to achieve outcomes, and some expanded their work with women to ancillary causes, such as conditions and wages for working women as well as women's rights in marriage and in motherhood.
These women had strong social as well as political consciences.
This is a fascinating period of history, covering the latter part of the 19th and the early part of the 20th centuries, and we should all, not just women, be thankful and appreciative for what these women fought so hard for and achieved after much blood, sweat and tears.
4.5 stars.
I thoroughly enjoyed her previous book, The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka, which is the first in a planned Democracy Trilogy, about the impacts of Australian women in world history.
And so it was again for You Daughters of Freedom, a detailed account of the roles of five remarkable Australian women in achieving women's suffrage in Australia and Britain.
(I saw Clare speak about her work at Adelaide Writers Week in 2019, and she is as fascinating to listen to as to read. I have a signed copy of this book.)
Suffrage came relatively easily to Australian women, as determined female leaders were able to convince the men who made the laws at the time of Federation that Australian society would be enhanced by female participation in the new democracy. Note that I said "relatively', because it was a hard fought battle and not really quite so straightforward.
But the battle was much harder and more protracted in the Mother country, and key Australian female warriors certainly did their bit, well beyond the call, to assist their British sisters.
As the famous banner created by Dora Meeson Coates (now on display in the Australian Parliament building) stated, "Trust the Women Mother As I Have Done."
Wright has brilliantly captured the absolute determination, spirit, defiance, organisational skills and dogged persistence of women such as Vida Goldstein, Nellie Martel, Dora Montefiore, Dora Meeson Coates and Muriel Matters, who were all leading pioneers in the suffrage movements in Australia and Britain.
These feisty women had gumption that is to be admired and commended, being prepared to work hard, suffer physical and verbal abuse, endure time in jail accompanied by starvation and force feeding, multiple financial penalties as well as the rampant derision of significant portions of society, especially men in power, in their determination to win what they saw as an absolute right for women to vote and impact legislative outcomes.
Some were ultimately prepared to resort to violent and destructive actions, when politeness and persuasion failed to achieve outcomes, and some expanded their work with women to ancillary causes, such as conditions and wages for working women as well as women's rights in marriage and in motherhood.
These women had strong social as well as political consciences.
This is a fascinating period of history, covering the latter part of the 19th and the early part of the 20th centuries, and we should all, not just women, be thankful and appreciative for what these women fought so hard for and achieved after much blood, sweat and tears.
4.5 stars.
December 25, 2018
This book covers a very specialised aspect of Australian history - how our women achieved the vote and the international ripples that occurred from this. Wright does a fantastic job of chasing those ripples and then connecting them in a way that makes sense. Her often wry tone is what made this giant tome so easy to read.
I really do wish I'd known about these fantastic women earlier. And certainly no history class I ever had deigned to mention that Federation's very success hinged on suffrage.
I really do wish I'd known about these fantastic women earlier. And certainly no history class I ever had deigned to mention that Federation's very success hinged on suffrage.
April 20, 2019
This book was a solid 4-4.5 stars for most of it, but I think the final chapters might have just about pushed it up to 5. While there are some passages that feel a little too full of detail, on the whole it is full of inspiring and important stories of the journey towards female suffrage. Wright does not at all shy away from some of the more shameful elements of the debate, but i was left with such a feeling of pride and gratitude that my forebears fought so hard and with such ingenuity for a right I have been taking for granted. Everyone should read this book.
September 12, 2019
Clare Wright’s book “ You Daughter Of Freedom” is on the Australian suffragettes and their role in getting women the vote in both Australia 🇦🇺 and the UK 🇬🇧 . It’s a great read, and starts by talking about how the author went to Parliament House and saw this huge painted banner and didn’t know anything about it. So she looked into it, and a 500+ page book popped out! I enjoyed the book, wondered why I didn’t know all this before. I also resolved that next time I go to Parliament House I am going to look for the banner, tucked away in a corner somewhere.... Keep an eye out for it!
August 4, 2020
Clare Wright writes so wonderfully! And combined with this fascinating topic, the book is a real page-turner.
It is very very rare for me to allocate five stars to any book - usually reserved for the pantheon writers such as Jane Austen. I thought I knew a great deal about both British suffragettes and the Australian woman suffrage movement, but I learnt so much more, and Clare has also illuminated the context, sequence, and personalities into a coherent and inspiring whole. Never forget the fight!
It is very very rare for me to allocate five stars to any book - usually reserved for the pantheon writers such as Jane Austen. I thought I knew a great deal about both British suffragettes and the Australian woman suffrage movement, but I learnt so much more, and Clare has also illuminated the context, sequence, and personalities into a coherent and inspiring whole. Never forget the fight!
February 11, 2019
Who,knew that Australia had so many influential women political activists? Clare Wright brings these ladies alive and harks back to a time when political idealism and achievements were high. This was inspiring to read....and it made me wonder what some of these women would think of our present day politics and the role of women in Australia. Well worth the read, especially for the reasons trotted out for stopping women’s achievements.
May 7, 2023
Every Australian feminists must read this book! What a powerful reminder of how Australian women pioneered the international movement for the vote, and also the social ideas and policies that have defined Australia’s democracy today. I learned so much and I feel re-invigorated to continue fighting for the ideas that our predecessors worked so hard for. This is the history that should be taught in every classroom.
October 1, 2025
The cause of the franchise for women’s votes in Australia and the massive influence the Australian feminists brought to England has been beautifully captured in Wright’s work. There were points of historical education for me. A great book to read at this point in Australia’s history as women rise in politics and as elders in our First Nations offering new voices and wisdom, in a world beset by the power wars of men.
December 26, 2018
Essential reading. The stories of these women who fought and at times died for their rights are powerful and until now very poorly documented. You should know who these women were. Clare Wright’s prose is easy to read and almost conversational, which is a good thing; she is informative and authoritative without being aloof or stuffy. Very much enjoyed every page, and can’t recommend it enough.
May 1, 2019
Heavy reading but such an important contribution to our understanding of Australian history - primarily because of the way it pulls the early feminists out of the shadows and shows their contribution. Definitely worth the effort - and the author makes it easier because of the way she writes i.e. making the historical details into an interesting narrative.
August 4, 2024
“On and on it went, one hackneyed argument after another: most women didn't want the vote; women would become 'manly; they would stop having children; they were too emotional, too uneducated; they would only vote as their husbands directed; they would only vote for the most handsome candidate; what would women want next?”
April 8, 2020
What a great story-teller historian Clare Wright is. I loved every page of this thrilling book, which provided me with a much better understanding of the history and significance of Australian women's ground-breaking suffrage.
February 29, 2024
Inspiring and moving, you feel caught up in the events. My only gripe is the balance of the book is too weighted to the suffrage campaign in Britain and the Australian campaign feels too slightly treated.
August 14, 2019
A wonderful, inspiring book!!
December 2, 2019
A good overview of the Australian women's suffrage movement and how it supported the same movement in the UK. Surprised to see some figures missing, however, like Edith Cowan.
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