Barbara Steel

Barbara Steel also known as Lady Steel, was a Scottish social activist and suffragette who campaigned for women's suffrage in both the United Kingdom and South Africa. She was the first woman to stand for election to Edinburgh City Council in 1907. After moving to South Africa in 1911, she became president of the Women's Enfranchisement Association of the Union, serving from 1916 to 1930. She was involved in the campaign that secured voting rights for white women in South Africa in 1930 and was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1918 for her wartime service. Quotes “Now that the sex bar to citizenship has been removed, we are justified in believing that it should not be beyond the combined wit of men and women to find a way to remove the colour bar in course of time.” Cape Times, National Library of South Africa “As we have leavened the political parties with the idea of justice for women, let us proceed to leaven all these societies with the idea of political and economic justice for all; and then whatever Government is in power will respond to our idealism.” Cape Times, National Library of South Africa External links Category:1857 births Category:1943 deaths Category:Scottish activists Category:Activists from South Africa Category:Suffragists Category:Women's rights activists Category:Women activists