Pank-a-Squith

Pank-a-Squith was released in 1909 by the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) as a tool for political advocacy and fundraising. The game was designed to dramatize the struggle of the British suffragettes, specifically their attempts to reach the Prime Minister, H.H. Asquith, to demand the right to vote. Its release served as both an educational device and a piece of campaign merchandise, intended to build public sympathy for the movement's persistent efforts against the entrenched political establishment of the Edwardian era.

The board game features a visual narrative where players move their pieces—miniature suffragettes—through a path littered with obstacles representing the physical and legal barriers imposed by the government, such as the police and prison walls. The illustration style reflects the graphic design trends of the early 20th century, utilizing clear, didactic imagery to portray the suffragettes as heroes and the state as an obstructive force. It was received as a clever, albeit provocative, subversion of the traditional parlor game, successfully bringing the serious nature of the suffrage campaign into the domestic sphere.