Hunger Strike

Aspen Haught

History Essay    

                                                                      Hunger Strike

   Since the furthest era I could think of, it seems like the whole world revolves around one

word, food. Food can make or break a situation, comfort someone, and or make someone who is not

so nice into a new person (such as the snickers commercial). When starting off this research project,

my first instinct was to look up the correct and precise definition of the word Hunger Strike. The

result that Google gave me was a simple and clear definition- "a prolonged refusal to eat, carried out

as a protest, typically by a prisoner."

        As the definition seemed to stick in my mind more and more each day, I was shocked by how

Women could just stop eating and deal with the horrible hunger pains everyone has before lunch. But

researching more it was brought to my attention that the hunger strikes they planned, were actually a

brilliant and effective weapon that Women used during the Women's suffrage. By doing this,

Women made the news and their hunger striking tactic seemed to catch a lot of the publics eyes in the

early 20th Century. The way the Women used the tactic of the hunger strike proved their right to vote

by how smart and manipulated they were, instead of using violence.  When looking at pictures of the

Women's Suffrage, I found a lot of marching in the streets, when in fact women's hunger strikes were

mainly the women in a prison for advocating the right to vote. This effective way not only won by

making the public feel guilty but also changed Americas history forever.

       The women that were imprisoned, because they took a stance for the right for Women to vote,

and plus the big hunger strike made the media coverage go up. With News Papers talking about the

women in the prisons that were involved with the hunger strike, the public became more educated

and the media persuaded their opinion on what was happening behind the scenes. This whole drama

filled story seemed to come from one incident. Giving women the right to vote. Back in the

progressive era, tension was high as only men could vote and women had to be a "House wife". This

winning and reconization the government finally made after weeks and weeks of Women starving

themselvesWomen starting to recognize the sextets culture that was common in the USA. The first

attempt at making this a successful tactic, seemed to influence a modern day incident that happened

only a four hour plane ride from where I live.

      On September 6, 2013, a humongous hunger strike broke out in women's prisons everywhere in

the state of California because of the way prisoners were kept in tiny cells for 22 hours a day. 30,000

inmates refused their state-issued meals, causing a repertory conflict again in America. Precisely two

months later the number of strikers went down to 100 inmates, which still causes the guilt factor of

watching someone die right in front of you. The hunger strike finally ended in the California area

when lawmakers announced they will hold a public hearing on the states use of solitary confinement.

Again, this tactic brought up a lot of social media and public discussion. When comparing the

Progressive hunger strike and the California one they both have a lot in common. Different reasons,

but the same mental tactic of manipulating ones mind to have that feeling of guilt.

       The hunger striking was taken to a heightened measure because without doing so, our history

wouldn't be the same. The results of doing the hunger strike not only effected America but it also

effected the women that were doing it, good and bad. Just like the progressive era, the californians

struggled with the women's bodies as they tried to eat again. Throwing up and not keeping the food

down properly, came no surprise since the Women were on the verge of dying. This tactic was effect

but also damaging since the Women that represented the right to vote not only were mentally scared

but also physically. Yet the results didn't catch the public attention like during the hunger strikes, their

tactic will be remembered and used, creating a non violent and effective way to change history and

problematic situations.

      When comparing the two Hunger Strikes, both the California incident and the start of Women's

Suffrage, the two tactics were a new and brilliant weapon to make what they envisioned happen. In

doing so, they not only both won but opened up the publics eyes on how their world was being

treated by psychiatric mind games.

Clevelandhs.org on Womens Suffrage Movement

historyproject.ucdavis.edu on the Doris Stevens

motherjones.com on a modern day Hunger Strike in California 

The turning point on Women's Suffrage, page 78-79

An Eyewitness History on Women’s Suffrage In America

The National Women’s History Museum on Women in the Progressive Era

Women in front of the White House protesting for Women’s Rights 

Women marching down the streets of Washington D.C and protesting Women’s suffrage

Example of propaganda, supporting Women’s suffrage on the right to vote

This picture is prisoners families protesting about the Hunger Strike in California    

This is a picture of two ladies in the National Woman Suffrage Association