Change In Lives Of Women 1918-79 Flashcards
What did the Representation of the People Act of 1918 achieve for women?
Gave women aged 30 and over the right to vote
This was a significant milestone in the suffrage movement in the UK.
Who was the first woman elected to parliament?
Constance Markievicz
She was elected in 1918.
What significant development occurred in 1921 related to family planning?
First Marie Stopes family-planning clinics opened
This marked an important step in women’s reproductive rights.
What did the Bastardy Act of 1923 accomplish?
Increased maintenance payments to single mothers
This law aimed to provide better financial support for single-parent families.
What change did the Matrimonial Causes Act of 1937 allow for women?
Women could obtain divorce for husband’s desertion or insanity
This law expanded the grounds for divorce available to women.
What year saw the introduction of universal suffrage for men and women?
1928
This act allowed all adults aged 21 and over to vote on equal terms.
What was a significant barrier to women’s employment after leaving school?
Glass ceilings in employment
Despite equal access to education, women faced limitations in career advancement.
What was the impact of the two world wars on women’s employment?
Promoted greater female employment, mostly part-time or lower paid
Economic changes during the wars led to more women entering the workforce.
What did the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act of 1919 allow women to do?
Be jurors, magistrates, barristers, high-ranking civil servants, and graduate from Oxford and Cambridge
This act aimed to remove legal barriers for women in professional fields.
What financial support was introduced by the Family Allowance Act of 1945?
Grants for children
This was part of broader social welfare reforms post-World War II.
What significant product was made available to women in 1961?
Contraceptive pill
This was a landmark development in women’s reproductive health and autonomy.
Fill in the blank: The _______ Act of 1925 gave mothers the same custody rights as fathers.
Guardianship of Infants
This law aimed to ensure equal parental rights.
True or False: Women in 1979 had less independence and choice compared to their mothers and grandmothers.
False
Women in 1979 enjoyed far more choice and independence.
What issue served as a brake on the advancement of female freedoms?
Financial security
Lack of financial independence was a significant barrier to women’s progress.
In which decade did governments begin to address unequal pay and sexual discrimination in the workplace?
1970s
This was part of a broader movement towards women’s rights during this period.
What was the significance of the right to vote for women in Britain?
The right to vote was seen by campaigners as a fundamental right and an essential stepping stone to further progress in the quality of women’s lives.
What did the National Union of Women Suffrage Societies change its name to?
It changed its name to the National Union of Societies for Equal Citizenship (NUSEC) to reflect the new focus of their campaign.
What event took place on 3 July 1926?
3,500 women gathered in Hyde Park for an equal rights procession and demonstration.
When did women over the age of 21 gain the right to vote on the same basis as men?
From 2 July 1928.
How many women stood as parliamentary candidates in 1918?
Only 17 women stood as parliamentary candidates.
Who was the only woman elected as a parliamentary candidate in 1918?
Countess Constance Markievicz, who refused to take her seat in the Commons.
What was the percentage of female MPs in the House of Commons between 1922 and 1935?
The number of female MPs remained low, with only 5 in 1922 and 8 in 1923.
What was a major obstacle for women in political advancement after gaining the vote?
The structure and attitudes of the main parties, which were biased against female politicians.
What did Eleanor Rathbone advocate for?
She argued for the equal valuation of different gender roles rather than equal roles and responsibilities with men.
What did female politicians tend to focus on?
They tended to focus on local politics rather than national politics.
What was the impact of the Second World War on female political life?
By 1939, more women with parliamentary experience were able to address specifically female issues.
What committee did Nancy Astor set up in 1940?
The Women Power Committee to investigate and promote female-specific issues.
What was the Women’s Consultative Committee established for?
To manage female participation in the war economy more effectively.
What did the 1970 Equal Pay Act address?
It aimed to ensure equal pay for equal work.
What was the impact of feminist literature like Friedan’s ‘The Feminine Mystique’?
It highlighted the unfulfilled lives of women and contributed to the feminist movement.
What was the NUSEC split?
The NUSEC split involved disagreements over whether women should push for equal terms or for equal roles and responsibilities.
Who argued for women’s roles in the party?
Eleanor Rathbone argued for women’s roles and responsibilities in the party.
What was the impact of the 1928 franchise reform?
The 1928 franchise reform allowed women to vote, but parties failed to promote female participation.
How did Labour parties treat female representation?
Labour allowed four female representatives to sit on the main policy-making executive.
What was the significance of the 1940 committee?
In 1940, a committee was formed to investigate and improve the wartime economy, contributing to the registration and conscription of women for work.
What did female MPs achieve regarding wartime compensation?
Female MPs led to the introduction of equal compensation for men and women in April 1943.
Who was Nancy Astor?
Nancy Astor was the first woman to take her seat in parliament, representing the Conservatives until 1945.
What was Eleanor Rathbone’s contribution?
Eleanor Rathbone’s arguments ensured that Family Allowance payments went to mothers rather than fathers in 1945.
What did Ellen Wilkinson achieve?
Ellen Wilkinson organized the 1936 Jarrow March and introduced the 1938 Hire Purchase Act.
What was Edith Summerskill known for?
Edith Summerskill was one of the first women trained as a doctor and a founder of the Socialist Health Association.
What legislation did Barbara Castle introduce?
Barbara Castle made seatbelts compulsory and introduced breathalysers to combat drink-driving.
What was the status of women in parliament post-war?
In 1945 and 1955, there were just 24 females out of 630 MPs; by 1974, it was 23 out of 635.
What challenges did women face in gaining parliamentary seats?
Women were rarely risked in safe seats and had to overcome large opposition majorities to gain their seat.
What was the Women’s Liberation Movement?
The Women’s Liberation Movement highlighted inequalities in a patriarchal society and encouraged women to stand up against male dominance.
What was the significance of the 1968 Dagenham strike?
The 1968 strike by female employees at the Ford car factory attracted national attention and galvanized female activism.
When and where did the National Women’s Liberation Conference first meet?
The National Women’s Liberation Conference first met in Oxford in February 1970.
Who organized the National Women’s Liberation Conference?
Socialist and historian Sheila Rowbotham organized the meeting.
What were the four key goals set by the National Women’s Liberation Conference?
The four key goals were equal education and opportunities, equal pay, free contraception and abortions on demand, and universal provision of childcare for working women.
What impact did feminist activists in the 1970s have on legislation?
A range of significant legislation had been achieved by the 1980s, largely due to the sustained pressure of feminist activists in the 1970s.
What was the impact of the First World War on women’s participation in trade unions?
The demand for female industrial labor during the First World War led many women to join trade unions for the first time between 1914 and 1918.
Who was Margaret Bondfield and what was her significance?
Margaret Bondfield was a suffrage and trade union activist who served on the wartime Central Committee for Women’s Employment and became a Labour MP in 1923.
What changes occurred in trade unions regarding female representation in the 1980s?
Several leading unions, such as UNISON, took deliberate steps to increase female representation at the highest decision-making levels.
How did female trade union membership change between 1970 and 1979?
Female trade union membership increased from 2.6 to 3.8 million, or 24 to 30 percent of total membership.
When was the first female leader of the TUC appointed?
The first female leader of the TUC was appointed in 2012.
What was the voting eligibility for women in local elections before 1918?
Widows and spinsters were allowed to vote in local elections from 1869, and married women who met the property qualification after 1894.
What did the Women’s Local Government Society publish in 1921?
The Women’s Local Government Society published leaflets such as ‘Why are Women Wanted on Town Councils?’ and ‘Rural Districts: Need for Women Councillors.’
What was the aim of the Women’s Local Government Association in 2007?
The aim was to secure a greater representation of elected women in local government.
What was the trend in women’s participation in the workforce from 1918 to 1979?
Women were far more likely to work in 1979 than in 1918, especially married women.
What was the impact of the Second World War on women’s employment?
The number of working women in industry increased from 3.3 million in 1914 to 4.8 million in 1918.
What legislation impacted women’s employment after the First World War?
The 1919 Restoration of Pre-War Practices Act forced women employed in munitions factories to return to pre-war employment or stop working.
What was a significant change in women’s work in the 1950s?
By the 1950s, the majority of married women worked, although this period saw a decline in women’s employment.
What was the significance of the 1975 Employment Protection Act?
The 1975 Employment Protection Act provided six weeks’ paid maternity leave.
What was the focus of women’s magazines in the 1960s and 1970s?
Women’s magazines focused on the ideal of women as mothers and homemakers.
What was the impact of the National Association of Council Women Representatives (NACWR)?
The NACWR put forward demands for Labour support and aimed to improve women’s representation in local government.
What was the impact of World War II on women’s employment?
The loss of manpower during the Second World War led to women being conscripted in large numbers to perform traditionally male work, increasing their participation in fields like engineering and transport from 14% in 1939 to 33% in 1945.
How did women’s aspirations change after World War II?
Wartime experiences of independence and extra income led to a permanent shift in female aspirations beyond the home, with women seeking more opportunities outside traditional roles.
What was the trend in married women’s workforce participation from 1951 to 1990?
In 1951, a quarter of married women worked; by 1961, this rose to a third; in 1971, it reached half; and by 1990, two-thirds of married women were employed.
What role did labour-saving devices play in women’s employment?
Labour-saving devices like vacuum cleaners and washing machines theoretically allowed women to spend less time on domestic chores, enabling them to pursue employment.
What was the significance of the 1968 Ford Dagenham strike?
The strike by 300 female sewing machinists led to Ford accepting equal pay for women doing similar jobs to men, inspiring the National Joint Action Committee for Women’s Rights.
What legislation was passed in 1975 to protect women’s rights?
The 1975 Employment Protection Act and the 1975 Sex Discrimination Act were passed, providing protections against discrimination and maternity rights.
What societal expectations were placed on women regarding marriage and family?
Marriage was seen as the main life goal for women, with societal expectations to be ideal mothers and homemakers, often leading to isolation and dependency on husbands.
How did the National Insurance Act of 1946 affect non-working wives?
The Act classified non-working wives as dependants, preventing them from claiming unemployment benefits and reinforcing their financial dependency on husbands.
What was the impact of motherhood on women’s career progression?
Women continued to face a glass ceiling and unequal pay largely due to the impact of motherhood on their career progression and the pressures of family life.
What significant change did the 1969 Divorce Reform Act introduce?
It allowed couples to end their marriage due to ‘irreconcilable differences’ after two years (or five years if only one party wanted the divorce).
What was the impact of the 1970 Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Act?
It awarded a far higher share of the couple’s wealth to the woman in divorce settlements.
How did divorce rates change from 1965 to 1976?
Divorce rates increased from less than three in 1,000 marriages in 1965 to almost ten in 1,000 by 1976.
What was the total number of divorces in the UK in 1975?
120,522 divorces.
What was the total number of divorces in the UK in 1995?
155,499 divorces.
What was the significance of the 1967 Abortion Act?
It legalized abortion during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy, which was supported by 70 percent of the British public.
What were the consequences of illegal ‘backstreet’ abortions before 1967?
They led to 40 maternal deaths and over 100,000 injuries in 1966 alone.
What was the initial public perception of the contraceptive Pill in Britain?
Experts feared its introduction could promote promiscuity among unmarried women.
When was the contraceptive Pill made available to all women in Britain?
It was made available in December 1961 at a subsidised price and became free on the NHS in 1974.
How did the number of women using the Pill change from 1961 to 1970?
It increased from 50,000 in 1961 to one million in 1970.
Who were some of the early female television newsreaders in Britain?
Barbara Mandel (TV, 1955) and Nan Winton (BBC, 1960).
What was the role of the Family Planning Association established in 1930?
It offered contraception and advice to married couples.
What was the significance of Brook clinics established in 1964?
They offered contraception services to unmarried girls as young as 16.
What were some female-dominated sitcoms broadcast from the 1960s?
The Rag Trade (BBC 1961-63), The Liver Birds (BBC 1969-79), and Butterflies (BBC 1978-83).
The last two were written by Carla Lane.
How have soap operas contributed to women’s desire for personal freedom?
Soap operas like Coronation Street (1960 onwards) have offered more assertive female role models.
What is the significance of strong, active women in soap operas?
They contradict conventional gender roles, providing a female voice and undermining the ‘masculine’ ethos of popular culture.
What aspects of women’s identity are expressed in soap operas?
Images of the powerful mother and the dominant role of the villainess, reflecting parts of themselves that women usually suppress.
What is one activity suggested for understanding political advances for women?
Make a detailed chronology with examples of political advancement and increased personal freedoms for women.
What is a question posed regarding progress for women?
In which area would you argue that women made greater progress: political advancement or increased personal freedoms? Justify your answer.
What is another question regarding the link between political advancement and personal freedoms for women?
In what ways and to what extent were political advancement and increased personal freedoms for women linked between 1918 and 1979?
