Pankhurst

Pankhurst, English family of women's rights activists. In 1903, Emmeline Goulden Pankhurst (1858–1928), a suffragist, and her daughters, Christabel Pankhurst (1880–1958) and Sylvia Pankhurst (1882–1960), founded the Woman's Social and Political Union, a base for their increasingly militant actions to further women's rights. Emmeline was repeatedly imprisoned (1912–13) and conducted several hunger strikes (1908–14). She died a month before British women gained full voting equality with men and was revered nationally for her work during the war and to extend suffrage.

See also: Women's movements.