Born: 1829 (Birmingham, Warwickshire, England)
Biography:
Elizabeth Rayner Belloc (née Parkes), better known as Bessie Rayner Parkes, was a trailblazing English feminist, poet, essayist, and journalist. Born on June 16, 1829, in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, Parkes was the daughter of Joseph Parkes, a successful solicitor with liberal and Radical sympathies, and Elizabeth Rayner Priestley, the granddaughter of the renowned scientist and Unitarian minister Joseph Priestley.
Growing up in a progressive and intellectually stimulating environment, Parkes developed a deep passion for writing and poetry. This love for the arts would later intertwine with her activism, as she utilized her poetic talents to advocate for women’s rights.
As she matured, Parkes became acutely aware of the unjust and oppressive situation faced by women in Victorian England, with differing circumstances depending on their social class. Together with her friend Barbara Leigh Smith Bodichon, she embarked on her first major endeavor: a campaign to reform the restrictive property laws that applied to married women. Their efforts would eventually contribute to the passing of the Married Women’s Property Act in 1870.
Additionally, in 1853, Parkes joined the Committee for the Ladies’ Address to their American Sisters on Slavery. The group, composed of dedicated women, worked diligently to gather an impressive 576,000 signatures for their anti-slavery petition in the United States. Simultaneously, Parkes began advocating for the education of young women, expressing her concerns about the limited career paths available to them. In her essay Remarks on the Education of Girls, she criticized society’s unfair treatment of women in relation to men, highlighting the need for change.
One aspect that greatly troubled Parkes was the distinction between ladies and women. Middle-class women risked losing social status if they earned money unless it was through acceptable outlets like writing, painting, or teaching (primarily as governesses). Parkes vehemently opposed this prejudice and, thanks in part to her efforts, by the end of the century, middle-class women were finally able to pursue an education and engage in paid work.
Parkes’s activism extended beyond British shores as she collaborated with like-minded women across Europe and the United States. This international dimension added significant weight and influence to their endeavors.
Throughout her life, Parkes faced challenges and opposition from societal norms, yet she remained steadfast in her dedication to the cause of women’s rights. Her contributions paved the way for future generations of women and significantly impacted the feminist movement during Victorian times. Her poetry and writings continue to inspire and empower women today.