According to Wikipedia, many historians think the suffragettes hurt the cause of women getting votes. There were several suffragist movements, and "suffragette" was used to describe the militants (who went on hunger strikes, committed arson, etc).
The opponents of suffrage would refer to suffragists as "suffragettes" (in much the same way Fox News might refer to left-wing politicians as socialists or communists), and would often argue "women are too crazy to vote - just look at the tactics they use!".
Women got the vote in 1918, 4 years after WSPU (the militant suffragette group) ceased activity (they essentially disbanded / split after the war started, because domestic terrorism during a war was obviously not a winning strategy).
It might be fun to think they beat up policemen, forcing people to take them seriously. But it actually had the opposite effect. At best, they were comparable to Malcolm X (making other groups look relatively acceptable).
The opponents of suffrage would refer to suffragists as "suffragettes" (in much the same way Fox News might refer to left-wing politicians as socialists or communists), and would often argue "women are too crazy to vote - just look at the tactics they use!".
Women got the vote in 1918, 4 years after WSPU (the militant suffragette group) ceased activity (they essentially disbanded / split after the war started, because domestic terrorism during a war was obviously not a winning strategy).
It might be fun to think they beat up policemen, forcing people to take them seriously. But it actually had the opposite effect. At best, they were comparable to Malcolm X (making other groups look relatively acceptable).