Activism Archives - Page 135 of 161

Margaret Home Sievwright

She wanted economic independence for married women, equal pay, and sex instruction and education for parenthood. She fought for the reform of the marriage and divorce laws, and maintained that prostitution would always exist as long as women lacked equal opportunity in employment. She objected to the stigma of the word ‘illegitimate’. Sievwright worked for disarmament during the South African war (1899–1902), and condemned any project ‘likely to involve Australasia in the participation of warfare’.

Harriet Russell Morison

Morison left behind an important legacy, not only as a trade unionist, but also as a feminist. She provides an example of the strong connections between women workers and the battle for women’s rights in New Zealand. Her belief that women had a duty to care for the morals of society as well as a right to be protected from its evils extended into her approach to trade unionism.

Millicent Amiel Baxter

The Baxters’ pacifist activity then focused on meetings of the New Zealand No More War Movement, later the New Zealand Peace Pledge Union, and they were central figures in these meetings before and during the Second World War.

Elizabeth Andreas Evatt

Elizabeth Evatt is an eminent Australian reformist lawyer and jurist. A leading trailblazer, her support of women’s civil and human rights has left Australia with a significant and lasting legacy. Evatt became the first Chief Judge of the Family Court of Australia, the first female judge of an Australian federal court, the first female Member of the Federal Conciliation and Arbitration Commission and the first Australian to be elected to the United Nations Human Rights Committee.

Maata Mahupuku

Ngāti Kahungunu woman of mana

Mākereti Papakura

Tūhourangi woman of mana, guide, ethnographer

Materoa Reedy

Ngāti Porou woman of mana

Miraka Szászy

Mira Szászy emerged from a humble upbringing to become one of the greatest Māori leaders and proponents of mana wāhine in the twentieth century. Throughout her life, Mira pushed for education, health and social reforms, and helped shape twentieth-century cultural and gender politics and forge new pathways for Māori women. She dedicated her life to te ao Māori, Māori women, and upholding the principles of humanity, social justice and equality.

Hertha Ayrton

Hertha Ayrton was an engineer and mathematician. She was awarded the Royal Society’s Hughes Medal, and is well known as a suffragette.

Dorothea Beale

Dorothea Beale studied at Queen’s College, London where she became the first female mathematics tutor. She became Principal of Cheltenham Ladies’ College and a founder of St Hilda’s College, Oxford.