Selina Martin facts for kids

Selina Martin (born 21 November 1882 – died 1972) was a brave member of the suffragette movement in the early 1900s. Suffragettes were women who fought for the right to vote. Selina was arrested many times for her actions. She received a special Hunger Strike Medal from the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) for her courage. This medal was later sold at an auction in Nottingham in 2019.

Early Life

Selina Martin was born on 21 November 1882, in a town called Ulverston in Lancashire, England. She was one of 11 children born to Elizabeth Martin. Her father worked as a picture framer and also sold books.

Fighting for the Vote

In March 1909, Selina Martin represented Lancaster as part of a group of suffragettes. This group was led by famous suffragette Emily Pankhurst and Georgina Solomon. They wanted to talk to the Prime Minister at the House of Commons. However, the women were arrested and sent to prison.

Later that year, on 21 December 1909, Selina Martin and another suffragette named Leslie Hall (Laetitia Withall) directly approached the Prime Minister, H. H. Asquith. They asked him about women's rights as he was getting out of his car. When he didn't answer them, Selina Martin threw an empty ginger beer bottle into his empty car.

Both women were immediately arrested. They were held for six days without being allowed to go home on bail. Even though Selina promised they would not protest until their trial, bail was still refused. The women were taken to Walton Gaol prison and treated like criminals who had already been found guilty.

Protesting in Prison

Like many suffragettes, Selina and Leslie protested by refusing to eat. Selina also tried to block her cell door. Prison officers forced their way in and treated her roughly. She was pulled off her bed and thrown to the floor.

Later, she was forced to get dressed even though her clothes were wet from a snowstorm. With her hands tied behind her back, she was dragged to a cold, dark punishment cell. She was left on the stone floor, unable to get up by herself. A wardress eventually helped her onto a bed, but her hands remained tied all night.

On the third day of her imprisonment, Selina appeared before the visiting magistrates. She complained about how she was being treated, explaining that she was still waiting for her trial. However, she was told that the officers were allowed to do what they did.

Sentenced and Released

On Monday, 27 December, the women returned to court. Leslie Hall was sentenced to one month in prison with hard labour, and Selina Martin received two months. Back in prison, both women refused to wear prison clothes and started their hunger strike again. They were then put in a straitjacket and placed in a punishment cell.

They were both force-fed, which means food was put into their bodies against their will. They became very weak until they were finally released on 3 February.

News about how they were treated in prison spread widely. The Home Secretary, Herbert Gladstone, wrote to The Times newspaper, saying the stories were not true. He claimed bail was refused because the women wouldn't promise to behave, and that no unnecessary force was used. However, many people knew that Mr. Gladstone's statements were often incorrect, as he frequently denied things that were clearly true.

Lasting Impact

Selina Martin's experience in prison inspired Lady Constance Lytton. Lady Lytton dressed as a working-class seamstress to prove that poorer prisoners were treated much worse than wealthy ones.

Selina Martin's actions had a big impact on the women's suffrage movement in Great Britain. Her treatment, and the treatment of other suffragettes who went on hunger strike, helped lead to a new law. This law was called the Prisoners Temporary Discharge for Ill Health Act 1913, also known as the "Cat and Mouse Act." This act allowed hunger-striking prisoners to be released when they became too ill, only to be re-arrested once they recovered.

Later Life

After her time in prison, Selina may have suffered from a stomach problem called dyspepsia. She also had a small injury inside her right nostril, which was the one used for force-feeding.

Selina was given a special Hunger Strike Medal by the WSPU for her bravery. This medal is now owned by The National Gallery of Victoria in Australia, which bought it at an auction in 2019.