Sister Suffragette

     The song that I have chosen that protests social injustice in the United States is “Sister Suffragette” from Walt Disney’s classic Mary Poppin’s.  “Sister Suffragette" is a pro-suffrage protest song sung by Mrs. Winifred Banks who is the wife of George Banks and the mother of Jane and Michael in the movie. The movie was set in the early 1900’s during the Woman’s suffrage movement, the women's suffrage movement is just another name for when women fought their rights, so that they could have the same professions as men, be paid the same wages, treated equally, and be able to vote too. This song was protesting the unfair and unequal treatment of women. Based on the lyrics “Political equality and equal rights with men!” the issue that this song focused on was the equality of women.  In the song Mrs. Winifred Banks sings “Cast off the shackles of yesterday…”  I believe that the shackles refer to the way that the women are treated, the unfair pay, rights and opportunities.  Another part of the symbolism is the word “yesterday.” I believe that she means that all the unfair treatment will soon be ancient history, and eventually forgotten by society. So basically the symbolism in this line is that they will be set free from inequality and be able to perform the right to vote, and have a successful career.  I choose this song because I love the movie Marry Poppins and I mean who has not seen Marry Poppins? This song is very upbeat and humorous as well. This subject matter is very dear to my heart because I am a girl, and without all the hardships that these women endured I would not have the opportunities that I have today. The women that participated and supported woman suffrage opened so many doors for myself and all women that is why this song is significant to me.  

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                                                                 -Lyrics-

We're clearly soldiers in petticoats
And dauntless crusaders for woman's votes
Though we adore men individually
We agree that as a group they're rather stupid!

Cast off the shackles of yesterday!
Shoulder to shoulder into the fray!
Our daughters' daughters will adore us
And they'll sign in grateful chorus
"Well done, Sister Suffragette!"

From Kensington to Billingsgate 
One hears the restless cries!
From ev'ry corner of the land:
"Womankind, arise!"
Political equality and equal rights with men!
Take heart! For Missus Pankhurst has been clapped in irons again!

No more the meek and mild subservients we!
We're fighting for our rights, militantly!
Never you fear!

So, cast off the shackles of yesterday!
Shoulder to shoulder into the fray!
Our daughters' daughters will adore us
And they'll sign in grateful chorus
"Well done! Well done! 
Well done Sister Suffragette!"