Considering conservative women in the gendering of modern british politics

Abstract

The shifting status of women and opportunities for women in politics in modern Britain has been garnering more scholarly attention recently, and the centenary of women’s partial suffrage in 2018 has done much to excite wider attention and public interest in these debates. However, the role of Conservative women has too often been seen as problematic, especially because of general assumption that feminism is only allied to leftist movements and political positions. This is the case despite the fact that there have been only two women Prime Ministers, and both Conservatives, and that the party has been highly successful at motivating and mobilising women at and outside election time. This special issue takes on the task of reconsidering, situating and nuancing the place of Conservative women in the story of women’s political emancipation.