Rethinking Right-Wing Women Gender and the Conservative Party, 1880s to the Present

Rethinking Right-Wing Women explores the institutional structures for and the representations, mobilisation, and the political careers of women in the British Conservative Party since the late 19th century. From the Primrose League (est.1883) to Women2Win (est.2005), the party has exploited women's political commitment and their social power from the grass-roots to the heights of the establishment. Yet, although it is the party that extended the equal franchise, had the first woman MP to sit Parliament, and produced the first two women Prime Ministers, the UK Conservative Party has developed political roles for women that jar with feminist and progressive agendas. Conservative women have tended to be more concerned about the fulfilment of women's duties than the realisation of women's rights. This book tackles the ambivalences between women's politicisation and women's emancipation in the history of Britain's most electorally successful and hegemonic political party.

About the author

Clarisse Berthezène is a Lecturer at the University of Paris Diderot

Product details

• Assisted by: Clarisse Berthezène (Editor), Gottlieb Julie (Editor)
• Authors: Clarisse Gottlieb Berthezene
• Publisher: Manchester University Press
• Content: Book
• Product form: Paperback / Softback
• Publication date: 20.01.2026
• Subject: Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education
• EAN: 9781526194800
• ISBN: 978-1-5261-9480-0
• Pages: 264
• Series: New Perspectives on the Right
• Subjects: SOCIAL SCIENCE / Women's Studies, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Process / Political Parties, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Comparative Politics, POLITICAL SCIENCE / World / European, 20th century, c 1900 to c 1999, 21st century, c 2000 to c 2100, Later 19th century c 1850 to c 1899, Comparative Politics, Politics and government, Gender studies: women, Gender studies: women and girls, Political parties and party platforms, Conservative Party, Political machinations, Women's Social and Political Union, edwardian britain, Christabel Pankhurst, Primrose League, gender inclusive approach, Conservative Century, Conservative Women, tory party, female unionism, female conservatism, Lady Iveagh, cultural dominance, cross-class language, electoral culture, British Conservatism, suffrage organization, Politics of Gender, National Union of Conservative Associations