Encyclopedias: Spartacus Educational: The Emancipation of Women: Hunger Strikes

Description: Abstract - In 1909, an imprisoned suffragette refused to eat. Afraid that she might die and become a martyr, it was decided to release her. Soon afterwards other imprisoned suffragettes adopted the same strategy. Unwilling to release all the imprisoned suffragettes, the prison authorities force-fed these women on hunger strike. Several suffragettes, probably died as a result of being forced fed in prison. Determined to avoid these women becoming martyrs, the government introduced the Prisoner's Temporary Discharge of Ill Health Act which became known as the Cat and Mouse Act.