Emmeline Pankhurst

Emmeline Pankhurst, a name synonymous with the British suffragette movement, was a woman who clearly believed that if you want something done, you have to do it yourself – or, failing that, smash a few windows and blow some things up. After all, politely asking for the right to vote had proven rather ineffective, hadn't it?

Born into a politically active family with a long history of anti-slavery agitation, one might assume Pankhurst's path to radicalism was almost preordained. Her father, a successful businessman, was a veritable hotbed of progressive ideas, making her early life less "Victorian repression" and more "salon discussions about social justice." It's almost enough to make one wonder if she ever just wanted to play with dolls.

Her tactics, which escalated from peaceful protests to property destruction and hunger strikes, certainly got attention, even if it wasn't always the positive kind. The thought of a well-bred Victorian woman throwing rocks at the prime minister's windows was enough to give the establishment apoplexy. Her commitment, however, was undeniable, even if her methods were perhaps a tad less "tea and crumpets" and more "dynamite and defiance."

Ultimately, while direct suffrage wasn't achieved until after her death, Pankhurst's unwavering determination undoubtedly paved the way. So, while she wasn't one of us, we can at least appreciate a woman who knew how to make some noise. And perhaps, on occasion, cause a little trouble.