Fawcett Society
Encyclopedia
The Fawcett Society is an organisation in the United Kingdom
which campaigns for women's rights. The organisation's roots date back to 1866 when Millicent Garrett Fawcett dedicated her life to the peaceful campaign for women's suffrage.
It is a charity registered with the Charity Commission
. Previously known as the London and National Society for Women’s Service and originally the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies, the organisation was renamed in 1953 as the Fawcett Society, in honour of founder Millicent Fawcett
who led the peaceful suffragist movement.
The organisation states that it campaigns on "women’s representation in politics and public life; pay, pensions and poverty; valuing caring work; and the treatment of women in the justice system".
The Fawcett Society recently filed papers with the High Court seeking a Judicial Review of the government's recent budget
, contending that the Treasury did not fully assess the impact that budget cuts would affect different groups, as is required by law. An analysis of the budget found that women would supposedly be paying around £5.8 billion of the £8 billion of savings planned. Their judicial review was denied.
The library and archives of the Society, formerly the Fawcett Library, are now part of the Women's Library at London Metropolitan University
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
which campaigns for women's rights. The organisation's roots date back to 1866 when Millicent Garrett Fawcett dedicated her life to the peaceful campaign for women's suffrage.
It is a charity registered with the Charity Commission
Charity Commission
The Charity Commission for England and Wales is the non-ministerial government department that regulates registered charities in England and Wales....
. Previously known as the London and National Society for Women’s Service and originally the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies, the organisation was renamed in 1953 as the Fawcett Society, in honour of founder Millicent Fawcett
Millicent Fawcett
Dame Millicent Garrett Fawcett, GBE was an English suffragist and an early feminist....
who led the peaceful suffragist movement.
The organisation states that it campaigns on "women’s representation in politics and public life; pay, pensions and poverty; valuing caring work; and the treatment of women in the justice system".
The Fawcett Society recently filed papers with the High Court seeking a Judicial Review of the government's recent budget
June 2010 United Kingdom Budget
The June 2010 United Kingdom Budget, officially known as 2010 Budget - Responsibility, freedom, fairness: a five year plan to re-build the economy, was delivered by George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, to the House of Commons in his budget speech that commenced at about 12.30 p.m on Tuesday...
, contending that the Treasury did not fully assess the impact that budget cuts would affect different groups, as is required by law. An analysis of the budget found that women would supposedly be paying around £5.8 billion of the £8 billion of savings planned. Their judicial review was denied.
The library and archives of the Society, formerly the Fawcett Library, are now part of the Women's Library at London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University , located in London, England, was formed on 1 August 2002 by the amalgamation of the University of North London and the London Guildhall University . The University has campuses in the City of London and in the London Borough of Islington.The University operates its...
.
Criticism
The Society has been criticised by business groups for comparing average pay for full-time men with average-pay for part-time women to highlight the disparity, and a lack of transparency in making their methodology clear. The Fawcett Society contend that the comparison is a valid one.External links
- Fawcett Society website
- THe Fawcett Society on twitter
- The Women's Library, London Metropolitan University, which holds the Society's records