Our history

Millicent Fawcett: a tireless and courageous leader

The Fawcett Society's story begins with Millicent Fawcett, a suffragist and women's rights campaigner who made it her lifetime’s work to secure women the right to vote.

At the age of 19, she organised signatures for the first petition for women’s suffrage, though she was too young to sign it herself. She became President of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (the NUWSS) from 1907-19. With 50,000 members it was the largest organisation agitating for female suffrage at the time. Her powerful and peaceful mass campaign was instrumental in securing the first extension of voting rights for women in 1918.

In 1913 she was awarded a brooch engraved with “For Steadfastness and Courage”, which The Fawcett Society still has today. Millicent Fawcett died in 1929, a year after women were finally given universal suffrage. Her work has continued ever since, with The London Society for Women’s Suffrage renamed as The Fawcett Society in her honour in 1953.

2018 marks 100 years since women first secured the right to vote, and Millicent Fawcett will be making history again. Thanks to a campaign led by Caroline Criado Perez, she is now the first woman commemorated with a statue in Parliament Square – a landmark moment for the wider suffrage movement, and for women everywhere.

Find out more about Millicent Fawcett and the movement for women's suffrage by reading our centenary factsheets here.

Take a stand for women's rights today

It's been 100 years since some women secured the vote - but as our Sex and Power 2018 report shows, we clearly still have a long way to go.

Equality won't happen if we don't fight for it. We've got to make it happen. We will continue Millicent's legacy by ensuring 2018 is a year of victories for girls and women everywhere.

Will you join our call for a fairer, more equal society? Honour Millicent Fawcett today by becoming a Fawcett member at this crucial time for gender equality.

Become a Fawcett member here

Progress on women's rights and gender equality since 1866

The Fawcett Society has been campaigning for women's rights for over 150 years through impactful research and hard-hitting campaigns. Scroll through the timelines below to explore key dates marking progress in women's rights since 1866.

Created with flickr slideshow.

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Latest

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Join Fawcett today: Standard monthly subscription

Your membership to Fawcett acts as a vital donation to our work ensuring women are fairly valued in society. Thank you for your support!
Our people

Who we are

The Fawcett Society is the UK’s leading membership charity campaigning for gender equality and women’s rights. If you believe in a society where no one is prevented from reaching their full potential because of their gender, join us today.
Work with us

We are a dynamic, friendly team in a supportive and caring working environment. We particularly welcome applications from BAME, LGBT, disabled and older applicants.
Join our movement for women's rights

We campaign for gender equality. At home, at work, and in public life. Join us — become a Fawcett member today!
Close the gender pay gap

Did you know it will take 100 years to close the gender pay gap at current rates? We cannot afford to keep going backwards.
Equal Pay

The Equal Pay Act in the UK is not fit for purpose. We're calling to end pay secrecy with a legal 'Right to Know'. The time for change is now.
Sex Discrimination Law Review

How do we make equality law in the UK fit for the 21st century? Create a fairer and more equal society by supporting our Law Review.
Our history

Millicent Fawcett began campaigning for women’s equality in 1866, and was instrumental in achieving first votes for women in 1918. At The Fawcett Society, we’ve continued her legacy of fighting sexism through impactful research and hard-hitting campaigns for over 150 years.
THE GENDER PAY GAP SERIES

We are hosting a series of Gender Pay Gap reporting events to help businesses drive positive change. Watch video clips and download speaker slides from each event here.
Find a local group

We’re delighted to have a growing number of active and effective local women’s rights meet ups, who work in the local community to enforce change and campaign on our behalf. Their work is invaluable to Fawcett.
Our staff

The Fawcett team is based in Vauxhall, south London, and is supported by a team of volunteers and temporary staff. Read more about us and how you can get in touch here.