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How Henrietta Franklin fought for emancipation, education and equality in the Jewish community and beyond

Henrietta Franklin is one of 59 men and women who will have their name etched onto the plinth of the Millicent Fawcett statute in Parliament Square. - National Portrait Gallery London
Henrietta Franklin is one of 59 men and women who will have their name etched onto the plinth of the Millicent Fawcett statute in Parliament Square. - National Portrait Gallery London

To celebrate 100 years since British women were first given the right to vote, The Telegraph - alongside the Mayor of London's #BehindEveryGreatCity campaign - is running a weekly series. 

'Hidden Credits' will look back and celebrate individual women who have smashed glass ceilings, helped change society for the better, and given the UK's capital something to boast about. 

 

Week 5: Henrietta Franklin

The eldest of ten children, Henrietta Franklin was the founder of England's first Liberal Jewish movement and a leading advocate in advancing education for women. 

Known as Netta, she first came to prominence when she established the Parents' National Educational Union (PNEU) which extending support and resources to homeschoolers in the UK. 

Millicent Fawcett statue. - Credit: CAROLINE TEO/AFP
Netta will have her name etched on the plinth of the Millicent Fawcett statue that is to be unveiled in Parliament Square later this year. Credit: CAROLINE TEO/AFP

Aside from education, Netta became very involved with feminist causes. In 1902 in her own living room, she hosted the first meeting of the Jewish Religious Union for the Advancement of Liberal Judaism. 

Alongside her sister, Lily Montague, Netta worked for the "advancement of liberal Judaism", which included later setting up the Jewish League for Women's Suffrage - an organisation dedicated to attaining equal religious rights for women in the Anglo-Jewish community. 

Henrietta Franklin - Credit: National Portrait Gallery
Henrietta Franklin was also known as Netta. Credit: National Portrait Gallery

Netta took her commitment to securing equality even further, by working with secular suffrage movements. 

From 1916-1917, she served as president of the National Union of Women Suffrage Societies, a level of influence that was limited to very few Jewish women due to the heavy Christian attitude of the English suffrage movement. 

Suffragettes - Credit: INTERFOTO / Alamy Stock Photo/INTERFOTO / Alamy Stock Photo
Netta was also involved in secular suffrage groups and was one of very few Jewish women to hold influential roles in the mainstream movement. Credit: INTERFOTO / Alamy Stock Photo/INTERFOTO / Alamy Stock Photo

After partial suffrage was granted in 1918, Netta turned her energy towards fighting for greater social welfare for women and, in 1925, she became the president of the National Council of Women (NCW).

Under her influence, the NCW pushed for changes in the law to protect women and children. 

According to the Jewish Women's Archive, Netta "helped shape the post-war ideal of Anglo-Jewish womanhood" and to "a Jewish community still wary of the emancipated 'new woman', [she] proved that feminism could strengthen Jewish home life, values and the synagogue".

Later this year, Netta is to be one of 59 women and men who will have their names etched onto the plinth of the Millicent Fawcett statue to be unveiled in Parliament Square.