The Suffragette Anthem: “The March of the Women”

The UK’s suffragette movement had its own anthem, The March of the Women, written in 1910 by composer and activist Ethel Smyth. The lyrics reflected the movement’s readiness for militant action:

“Comrades – ye who dared first in battle to strive and sorrow!”

Sung during marches and hunger strikes, it united the women in strength and in the belief that they would achieve a better future:

“Firm in reliance, laugh a defiance, laugh in hope, for sure is the end.”

Between 1906 and 1914, over 1,000 suffragettes were imprisoned and in 1913, Emily Davison made the ultimate sacrifice when she attempted to attach a Votes for Women banner to the King’s horse during the Epsom Derby. She was trampled and died from her injuries in hospital four days later.

Gaining the Vote: A Slow Victory

The Representation of the People Act was passed in 1918, giving voting rights to women over 30 who met specific property qualifications. It wasn’t until 1928—ten years later—that women were finally granted equal voting rights with men.

The Pill and Bodily Autonomy

Even after achieving the vote, women still lacked full control over their lives. In the 1960s and 70s, major progress was made. In 1961, married women were given access to the contraceptive pill in the UK, and by 1967 it was made available to all women. For the first time, they had some control over their reproductive choices and futures.

A Pop Anthem with a Message: “You Don’t Own Me”

Surprisingly, two male songwriters from Los Angeles—John Medora and David White—saw a missing voice in the music industry: one that reflected the real experiences of women. Medora, who had grown up in Philadelphia and witnessed racial prejudice, understood inequality first-hand. Together, they wrote You Don’t Own Me.

The song was picked up by 17-year-old Lesley Gore in 1963. She later said:

“At the time, I know I chose it because I liked the strength of the lyric.”

The lyrics boldly declare a woman’s independence:

“Don’t tell me what to do, don’t tell me what to say.”

It was a stark contrast to Gore’s earlier sugary pop hit It’s My Party. The feminist anthem reached number two on the charts and was later embraced by the #MeToo movement, which began in 2006 and surged on social media in 2017 as a platform to support victims of sexual assault and violence.

From suffragette marches to modern-day movements, music has long been a weapon for change. These songs not only reflect the struggles and triumphs of women’s rights—they amplify them, giving voice to those who refuse to be silenced.

Honourable mentions

• Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves by Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin
• Rebel Girl by Bikini Kill
• Labour by Paris Paloma
• Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
• Man! I Feel Like a Woman! By Shania Twain
• Celebrity Skin By Hole

Coming Next: Singing for Love.

Part six discusses how songs have been used to support the LGBTQ+ Community.