Margaret Sievwright

thumb|right|National Council of Women, Christchurch, 1896 Margaret Home Sievwright (née Richardson; 19 March 1844 – 9 March 1905), known as Margaret Sievwright, was an active political figure and feminist in temperance and suffrage movements, later becoming the president of the National Council of Women of New Zealand. Quotes The question is often asked, "What do women want?" We want men "to stand out of our sunshine"; that is all. As stated in Elspeth M. Simpson's "Biography: Sievwright, Margaret Home" Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Published: 1993. Accessed: 4 February 2026. The New Woman is she who had discovered herself, not relatively as mother, wife, sister, but absolutely...she recognises her restrictions, and she further recognises that these restrictions must be struggled against, not in the direction of denying her nature, but rather of shaking off every artificial restraint and repression which will in any way hinder her own full and free development... Alicia Taylor's "Margaret Home Sievwright and the Fight for "United Womanhood"" Auckland War Memorial Museum - Tāmaki Paenga Hira. Published: 6 December 2018. Accessed: 4 February 2026. ...I would rather have this new woman - even in her occasional perversity, exaggeration, and revolt - than the female oyster who discovers no interest in life outside the limits of her own shell. Alicia Taylor's "Margaret Home Sievwright and the Fight for "United Womanhood"" Auckland War Memorial Museum - Tāmaki Paenga Hira. Published: 6 December 2018. Accessed: 4 February 2026. We want to grow as flowers of the field are permitted to grow, whether they be of male or female form. We want to develop as do the mothers of the animal world where infanticide or female subjections are alike unheard of and undesired. Let woman but have free course and she will glorify not only herself, but the whole race; and in order to her having free course our request for woman is only this, that she may have a fair field and no favour, freedom to give expression to her own powers. Our New Zealand University has been thrown open to women on the same terms as men, and nothing but good has eventuated. Our professions have been thrown open to women, and neither have the skies fallen nor wedding bells ceased to peal.Our polling booths have been thrown open to women, and drunkenness and rowdyism, bribery and corrupt practices have in great measure given place to decency, good order and kindly camaraderie. Let the Civil Service, and other posts, appointments and positions in the colony-or beyond it for that matter-be thrown open to women. In a word, let disability of sex be withdrawn, as have those other disabilities of colour, race, caste and class, and only good will result... As stated in New Zealand Mail's "Napier, May 8" New Zealand Mail. Published: 14 May 1902. Accessed: 4 February 2026. ...The political head of this colony says women do not want the removal of their disabilities. I can believe that a few women, through sheer ignorance, say they do not want it. I can believe that some dare not admit they want it. But that the majority do not want it is, I believe, simply untrue. We women of the National Council do not pay annual visits to the towns of the colony for our own amusement. There is no royal road to the capacity for real service, as there is no royal road to any supreme attainment, and we who have taken up the white woman's burden of responsibility in this corner of our great Empire are bound to do what we can to put an end to this hell born conspiracy of silence which is eating into the very vitals of our humanity. We crave for education and free and unhampered life-a life of wholesome economic independence. It is perhaps too much to expect those who have grown up in indifference or ignorance to adjust themselves to the new conditions which a century of scientific discovery has rendered inevitable, but surely our younger brothers who have grown up side by side with our girls in the happy comradeship of mixed schools and colleges will range themselves, as I believe they are already doing, on the side of justice and right. As stated in New Zealand Mail's "Napier, May 8" New Zealand Mail. Published: 14 May 1902. Accessed: 4 February 2026. External links Category:1844 births Category:1905 deaths Category:Women born in the 19th century Category:Women academics from New Zealand Category:Political activists Category:Feminists