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Famous people—Josephine Butler (easy)

EFLsuccess.com

An EFL lesson for lower-level students

May 2026. eflsuccess.com, Michael Krigline ⇔

Click here for a longer version of this lesson, for students with a higher English level (or teachers with more time to present it).

Warm up: Each student should name one form of charity. That is, name one way to give money, time, a skill, etc., to help the poor, sick, or others in need.

Vocabulary:

(*key terms) [Remember: sth = something; sb = somebody. Click here for common English abbreviations]

  • *scholar: sb who is being (or has been) formally educated to achieve a high level of understanding, insight, wisdom, etc.
  • prostitute (prostitution): sb who earns money by having sex for a fee
  • fallen: this term isn’t used much anymore, but used to imply a fall/departure from a higher moral or social position; a sinner (one who has fallen short of God’s perfect standard)
  • *double standard: unfair rules; when you have one rule for somebody, but a different rule for somebody similar ~ “Ms. Butler was very angry about double standards for men and women.”
  • *contagious: easily passed from one person to another (e.g., illnesses like a cold or flu)
  • suffrage: the right to vote in public elections
  • *secular: not religious; not related to or under the authority of religious leaders
  • feminist: one who is outspoken about women’s rights to the same opportunity, pay, etc. as men
  • *radical: different, new, and against what most people think or believe
  • *vulnerable: easily harmed or damaged
  • trafficking (traffickers, to traffic): illegally taking and selling people to work in another place ~ “Unguarded borders enable traffickers to smuggle drugs and to traffic children to markets abroad.”

Josephine Butler (1828-1906)

Underlined vocabulary terms are underlined and then defined below (I recommend that you start there!), followed by discussion questions.

If you are a woman who can vote or go to university today, you should thank Josephine Butler. She was a brave British woman who fought for women’s rights in the 19th century. She has been called one of the most important English women of her time.

Most girls in Britain did not receive a good education when Josephine was young. However, her father taught her at home. She also learned French and Italian. Later, this education helped her do important work. 

Josephine married George Butler, a scholar and church leader. When they lived in Oxford, women were not allowed to study at the university. Almost all teachers and students were men. Limited opportunities for women and the era’s weak morality pushed (or forced) many poor women to work as prostitutes to earn money. Josephine and her husband felt sorry for these women, called “fallen women.” They invited some of them into their home to give them food, safety, and help.

Josephine was especially angry about the double standards for men and women. Men could do wrong things without punishment, but poor women’s lives were often destroyed. She began to fight against the Contagious Diseases Acts. These laws were very unfair to poor women.

In 1869, Josephine started the Ladies National Association. She worked hard to change people’s ideas about women’s rights and public health. Thanks to her efforts, women were finally allowed to study at universities in the 1870s and 1880s. She also fought for women’s right to vote (women’s suffrage).

The most important part of her life was Josephine’s strong Christian faith. She believed God wanted her to help the weak and the poor. She often remembered how Jesus showed love to people that society rejected (see Matt 21:28-32). She once said, “God and one woman make a majority.” This meant that with God’s help, even one person can make a big difference.

Today, many people have forgotten Josephine Butler. Some secular feminists ignore her because of her strong Christianity. Some Christians forget her because her ideas were considered too radical for her time. But her life shows us that deep faith and courage can change the world.

In summary, Josephine Butler’s work helped lead to many rights and opportunities that women enjoy today. She had a remarkable influence on higher education for women, voting rights, and the protection of vulnerable women from unfair social practices and trafficking.

(See discussion questions below.) A few explanatory notes are also after the discussion section.

Photos

Josephine’s charitable work started here, at world-famous Oxford University.
This article was born during a tour of Oxford in February 2026. The guide is on the right, next to Michael (webmaster of EFLsuccess.com).
One of Oxford’s most famous teachers was CS (Jack) Lewis, author of the Chronicles of Narnia and many influential books in the 20th century. The Kilns was his home; Michael visited in 2016.
Strolling in historic downtown Oxford

Media (optional):

If you have time, listen to this interesting podcast:

Discussion:

Are there any terms you want to ask your teacher about? (As always, please do not answer any question that makes you uncomfortable.) If you have a lower English level, ask your partner “content questions” which have answers in the text.

  1. Ask your partner one “content question” (that is, a question where the answer is in the text).
  2. Why does the author say that modern women should be thankful to Josephine Butler? What specific things do we take for granted today that she helped change?
  3. Josephine Butler was home-schooled because women were excluded from most formal education. How has access to education for women changed in your country or culture over the past 100 years?
  4. The article mentions “sexual double standards.” What does this mean? Why was Josephine Butler so angry about it?
  5. The article says Josephine’s Christian faith was the most important part of her life. Do you think faith can be a strong motivation for social change? Why or why not? Give examples if possible.
  6. Both Christians and non-Christians have overlooked Josephine’s contribution. Why? Do you think that faith and social justice can work together or should they stay separate?
  7. Josephine Butler famously said, “God and one woman make a majority.” What do you think she meant by this? Do you agree that one determined person can make a big difference? Can you think of any other historical figures who showed this?
  8. What did you find most inspiring or surprising about Mrs. Butler’s life? Is there any lesson from her story that you can apply to your own life or community?

Still have time? Discuss discuss this proverb from the Bible:

“Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Prov 31: 8-9 ESV)

If there are any words in this passage that you don’t understand, ask your teacher. How does this proverb relate to Mrs. Butler’s work? What are some modern examples of people who are “mute” or “destitute” and therefore need help?

Notes:

  1. Millicent Fawcett (1847-1929) was a key figure in the peaceful, law-abiding wing of the suffrage campaign (via the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies, which she led from 1897 to 1919), contrasting with the more militant suffragettes. She witnessed partial women’s suffrage in 1918 and full equality in 1928, just before her death.
  2. Josephine’s father, John Grey, was a cousin of Prime Minister Earl Grey (Charles Grey, the 2nd Earl Grey, PM 1830 to 1834), remembered for helping to reform the British electoral system and abolish slavery within the British Empire. A Chinese mandarin presented him with a blend of tea flavored with bergamot, giving birth to the famous “Earl Grey” tea that bears his name.
  3. George and Josephine Butler had four children together, though two died young.
  4. X-AI (Grok) helped with research, to create discussion questions, and to provide a “lower level” version.

Sources include

  • Comments by tour guide James Greig, Zenas Tours
  • Podcast with Dr. Sarah Williams (see “Media” above)
  • DuckDuckGo AI
  • X-AI (Grok), which provided the following references…
  • Primary Sources (Butler’s Own Writings or Contemporary Accounts) ~ These are especially strong for direct details on her education and Oxford life, as she reflected on them in her memoirs. Many are accessible online via archives like HathiTrust, Project Gutenberg, or university libraries.
  • – **Butler, Josephine E. Recollections of George Butler** (1892).  ~   This is her biography of her husband. It’s a key primary source for the Oxford period (1852–mid-1850s/early 1860s). Available in reprints or archives.
  • – **Butler, Josephine E. An Autobiographical Memoir** (edited by George W. and Lucy A. Johnson, 1909/1913 editions).
  • – **Butler, Josephine E. Personal Reminiscences of a Great Crusade** (1896).
  • Wikipedia
  • Jane Jordan. Josephine Butler (2001)
  • Helen Mathers. Josephine Butler: Patron Saint of Prostitutes (2014)
  • Sarah Williams. When Courage Calls (2024) https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/sarah-c-williams/when-courage-calls-josephine-butler-and-the-radical-pursuit-of-justice-for-women/9781399803731/ 

For additional lessons on famous people, visit: https://famouspeoplelessons.com

Original materials on EFLsuccess.com ©Michael Krigline, some rights reserved. Our resources were created for our students under the understanding of “fair use” for educational resources. As far as we are concerned, website visitors are allowed to print/copy these materials for personal or classroom use. For details, see our Website Standards and Use Policy. We also encourage you to visit Michael’s inspirational website: wp.krigline.com.

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