{"id":1215,"date":"2018-07-11T11:16:04","date_gmt":"2018-07-11T10:16:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/equality-2\/?page_id=1215"},"modified":"2025-02-11T10:41:09","modified_gmt":"2025-02-11T10:41:09","slug":"14dec","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/equality\/home\/gender__trashed\/vote100\/14dec","title":{"rendered":"Vote100@DCC – 14th December 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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On 14th<\/sup> December 1918, women over the age of 30 who met property or education requirements could vote for the first time in a general election, and we marked this centenary with an exhibition and two events at County Hall in Exeter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exhibition on Suffrage and Democracy<\/strong>, which ran from 3rd<\/sup> December to 14th<\/sup> December, included a timeline<\/a> of women County Councillors and MPs, a photography exhibition – The Candidates<\/a> by Jessica Lennan of Devon women who stood for election in 2017, information about the 1918 vote, Dreadnought SW Rebellious Sounds Archive Listening Booth<\/a>, discussion boards, a suffrage board game, and a polling station to vote on a current issue (votes for 16-year-olds).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00a0The Suffrage Flag<\/strong> flew from the Bellair flag pole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you were around County Hall on Friday 14th<\/sup> December you may have been greeted on arrival by Suffragette Sue <\/strong>who chained herself to the railings at the Coaver Club and caused disruption throughout the day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Volunteers from our apprentices team!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Wearing Votes for Women sashes and rosettes, a team of DCC Apprentices<\/strong> provided help with stewarding at both events and the exhibition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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(photo by @DCCApprentices)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n



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In the Coaver Conference Hall, the Women in Public Service<\/strong> \u2018conference with a difference\u2019 kicked off at 10am, opened by Chairwoman Councillor Caroline Chugg. (Photo by @DCC_ChangeTeam)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The day involved a series of \u2018sofa interviews\u2019 with a fantastic selection of women from Devon and beyond exploring how to empower women who work in the public sector, representation of women in politics and the history of our pioneering female politicians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With BBC radio\u2019s Jo Loosemore at the helm, the guests on the sofas were Chief Inspector Jane Alford-Mole – Devon and Cornwall Police, Meg Booth – Devon County Council, Emma-Rose Herrera, Environment Agency,  Bindu Arjoon \u2013 Exeter City Council, Fiona Mactaggart – Fawcett Society, Clarissa Brown – 50:50 Parliament, Marie Chadwick – The Parliament Project, and historians Dr Julia Neville and Lisa Berry-Waite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u00a0(photos by @SarahJGov @50:50Parliament and @LisaBerryWaite)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event opened and closed with songs on the themes of women\u2019s suffrage, feminism and women\u2019s history, including a song about Devon County Council\u2019s first woman Councillor, Juanita Maxwell Phillips, performed by Wren Music Her Story Women\u2019s Choir [lyrics]<\/a> [MP3 Live Recording]<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delegates were also treated to a unique performance by Natalie McGrath from Dreadnought SW which drew on quotes from two plays about women\u2019s suffrage and great quotes from women of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Running simultaneously in the Council Chamber, was a Youth Takeover<\/strong>. Young people were given the opportunity to debate on topics of their choosing. Students from Exeter Royal Academy of Deaf Education debated issues around subtitles and sign language on television, and students from Tavistock College debated abortion law, gender pay gap and gender pronouns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both schools were also given a welcome and introduction to democracy and how the County Council works from our Democratic Services team, as well as an opportunity to look at the exhibition and take part in the poll and discussion boards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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(photo by @CllrDebo)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Youth Takeover was webcast, and the Women in Public Service event was filmed on Facebook Live via Devon County Council\u2019s page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Video Links<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Youth Takeover<\/strong> (webcast): https:\/\/devoncc.public-i.tv\/core\/portal\/webcast_interactive\/364811<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Facebook Live, Women in Public Service:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening, Choir and Empowering Women in Public Service discussion: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/OfficialDevonCC\/videos\/308067606471590\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Performance by Natalie McGrath: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/OfficialDevonCC\/videos\/371192437040258\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discussion on Representation of Women in Politics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/OfficialDevonCC\/videos\/511967569301992\/<\/a> and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/OfficialDevonCC\/videos\/297815124176606<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(some of this discussion is missing due to a technical problem)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discussion about the first women MPs and Councillors, and finale from the Choir including a song about Devon County Council\u2019s first woman Councillor (also catch Suffragette Sue at the start!):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/OfficialDevonCC\/videos\/584005058687095<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Hint: use headphones for improved sound quality).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poll Results<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As part of the exhibition we asked people whether the age at which people should be allowed to vote in England and Wales should be lowered to 16.  The results were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n