Transport for London (TfL) has angered social media users after writing a “sexist” message about suffragette Emily Davison.
The message accused the late feminist campaigner of failing to make her husband’s tea.
The notice was written by a TFL worker on a ‘thought of the day’ whiteboard inside Colliers Green station.
Commuters accused TFL of being “incredibly short-sighted” over the ‘joke’, which coincided with the 100-year anniversary of women gaining the right to vote in the UK.
This is just so, so bad
— Victoria Haslam (@_victoriahaslam) February 7, 2018
A photo of the board was tweeted by Evelyn Clegg on Wednesday morning, who wrote: “Is this supposed to be funny, @TFL?
“Well, this humourless feminist is genuinely appalled.”
The tweet sparked a number of responses that described the message as “appalling”, “embarrassing and not remotely funny” and “disappointing”.
TfL’s official Twitter account replied to Clegg’s tweet, saying the “unacceptable” joke was being investigated.
The full notice read: “100 years ago, suffragette Emily Davison died after throwing herself in front of the king’s horse.
“History remembers her as being influential in giving women the right to vote.
“What history doesn’t remember is her husband, who didn’t get his tea that night!”
I’m also not sure she even had a husband? Never seen any reference to a marriage. I know that’s not even the point….but still.
— Ree (@ReeReeRockette) February 7, 2018
February 6 marked 100 years since the passing of the Representation of the People Act was passed, granting for the first time in history the voting rights to women over the age of 30 who owned property.
India, a visitor at the Women’s Votes exhibition at Museum of London, speaks to City News on the spread of Feminism
In 1903, Emmeline Pankhurst started a revolution by founding ‘Women’s Social and Political Union’, which campaigned for women’s suffrage in the UK.
The journey to win the vote was long and tortuous, however in 1918 these heroic women won.
This movement set the stage for an era of change, and modern women have channelled the suffragette spirit to campaign against sexism, racism, exploitation and much more.
Last century’s suffragettes are today’s human rights defenders.
It’s just a joke!! TFL’s daily posts are so funny, I’m sure they meant nothing disrespectful.See the funny side,life is honestly too short 👍
— Helen Andreou (@ldnmeetsparis) February 7, 2018
Tuesday, women across the UK celebrated the milestone which suffragettes bravely fought to accomplish.
Despite the encouraging and inspiring day, the unpleasant message is a reminder that we still have to go far until women are taken as seriously as men.
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