Janet McCallum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Janet McCallum
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in a prisoner outfit
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| Born | 21 July 1881 Dunfermline, Scotland
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| Died | 24 March 1946 (aged 64) Pretoria, South Africa
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| Nationality | British |
| Other names | Janet Richardson |
| Occupation | Linen worker |
| Known for | Suffragette and trade unionist |
| Spouse(s) |
Harry Richardson
(m. 1915) |
Janet "Jenny" McCallum (born July 21, 1881 – died March 24, 1946) was a brave Scottish woman who fought for important rights. She was a Suffragette, meaning she campaigned for women to have the right to vote. She was also a trade unionist, working to improve conditions for workers. What made her special was that she came from a working-class background, unlike many other activists who were from wealthier families.
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Janet McCallum's Early Life
Janet McCallum was born in Dunfermline, Scotland, in 1881. She was the oldest of thirteen children in her family. Her father helped build the famous Forth Bridge. Janet worked in a factory that made linen fabric. It was unusual for a working-class woman like her to become so active in the women's suffrage movement.
Fighting for Women's Votes
Janet quickly became a key figure in the fight for women's voting rights.
Organizing Big Events
In 1907, Janet helped organize a "Great Demonstration" in West Fife. This event brought national leaders of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) to the area. The WSPU was a well-known group fighting for women's votes.
Joining the Women's Freedom League
By 1908, Janet joined a different group called the Women's Freedom League (WFL). This group had broken away from the WSPU because they disagreed with how the Pankhurst family, who led the WSPU, ran things.
Arrest and Imprisonment
On October 27, 1908, Janet was in London. She had left her job at the linen factory in Dunfermline to focus on activism. She and 14 other women were arrested after a protest outside the Houses of Parliament. A newspaper reported that "four very athletic suffragettes clambered on a statue." Janet was given a choice: pay a £5 fine or go to prison for one month. She chose to go to prison. After being released from Holloway Prison, she went to Glasgow to continue her work for the WFL.
Helping Her Community
After some time, Janet returned to Dunfermline. She went back to work to help support her mother and sister.
Family Life
In 1915, Janet married Harry Richardson. They had three children together.
Leading a Rent Strike
In 1919, Janet became well-known for her role in a disagreement with the Scottish National Housing Company. She drew attention to the tenants in Rosyth who were involved in a "rent strike." This was a protest where tenants refused to pay rent to demand better housing conditions. It was seen as a protest led by women. Some tenants ended up in court because of the dispute. Janet was able to arrange for Sylvia Pankhurst, another famous suffragette, to speak in court on their behalf.
Later Life and Legacy
In the 1920s, Janet and Harry decided to move to South Africa because there wasn't much work in Scotland. By the time women finally gained the right to vote, Janet was living in South Africa. She passed away in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1946. Janet McCallum is remembered as a strong voice for both women's rights and workers' rights.
