3 Family Life and Personal Freedoms 1951-1979

Question 1

Struggle for New Freedoms

2nd wave feminism

Answer 1

• reproductive rights
• domestic violence
• sexism in the workplace

produced the womens liberation movement

Question 2

abortion developments

developments in 1961 and into the 70s with having children?

Answer 2

• the pill produced in 1961 but only for married women
• seen by critics as a cause for Britain’s ‘permissive society’
• by the end of the 1970s, women were having fewer children and their first child later

Question 3

imapct of womens liberation movement

by the post-war era

Answer 3

feminism seen as old fashioned

Question 4

confederation of _____ _______ ______ in 1970, what was teh effect?

Answer 4

confederation of national womens conference in 1970, number of female groups in London grew from 4-50.

Question 5

womens liberation

book created by Germain Greer and its effects?

Answer 5

‘the female enuch’ by Germaine Greer: discussed mens control of women and how it made them hate themselves.

Question 6

domestic violence

1974: National () () federation

Answer 6

National womens aid federation established

Question 7

domestic violence

1976: () () and () proceedings Act

what did it allow?

Answer 7

Domestic violence and matrimonial proceedings act
- courts could punish abusers

Question 8

domestic violence

what was setup in the 1970s?

Answer 8

female activists setup refugre centres for domestic violence victims

Question 9

domestic violence

1973: () crisis centre, what was its effect (or lack of)

Answer 9

1st rape crisis centre setup in 1973.
- the few court cases conducted for rape were usually advantageous to the accused
- female victims closely examined as if they were being punished

Question 10

domestic violence

James White 1975

Answer 10

responsible for the Abortion (amendment) act 1975: abortion time limit reduced to 20 weeks :(

Question 11

John Corrie MP claimed what over abortion? what was the result?

Answer 11

women were using abortion as contraception, despite 95,688/112,055 abortions on medical grounds by 1978
- 80,000 women marched through central london in protest

Question 12

isolation of the housewife

social fragmentation meant….? one study in the 1950s showed (%) of women admitted to what?

Answer 12

social fragmentation meant: many women were happy to return to the ‘homemaker’ post-war, but this was changing by the late 1950s.

• 60% of women were bored and isolated at home.
• however, new consumerism meant women became the decision maker in buying products ;)

Question 13

who were role models for postwar women? which sitcoms were the first female dominated ones?

Answer 13

• Barbara Mandell (ITV, 1955)
• Nan Winton (1960, BBC)
  early newsreaders, plus:
• the Rag Trade (1961-1963)
• butterfliies (1969-1979)

Question 14

Dagenham Sewing Machinist Strike 1968: what did it create?

Answer 14

• female sewing machinists at fords factory were paid 15% less than men doing the same job
• 7% pay rise achieved, but
• equal pay not established until 1984 strikes
• inspired National joint Action comittee for womens rights

Question 15

what happened to male acceptance of female jobs postwwar?

Answer 15

due to the sheer amount ofo women involved in ‘mens jobs’
the male acceptance of female workers increased

Question 16

1974 female MPs

Answer 16

still 23/635 MPs were women

Question 17

1970 Matriominal proceedings and property act

Answer 17

awarded more welaht to the women in divorce settlements

Question 18

1975 Employment Protection Act

Answer 18

women couldn’t be fined for getting pregnant, and a week paid maternity leave for those who qualified.

Question 19

Equal Pay Act 1970

Answer 19

‘established’ equal pay.
- though even 5 years after it was implemented: all womens workers pay was 59% of mens - act only really suitable for factory jobs

Question 20

Sex Discrimination Act 1975

Answer 20

women had legal protection against workplace harassment - still difficult to pursue cases in court.