lesson 12 Flashcards
a patriarchal society
in the 1950s women seen primarily as housewives and mothers
very few women made it into senior positions in industry, commerce or politics.
average marriage age for a woman was 21 and 75% of women were married
women expected to be virgins till marriage
sex outside of marriage, abortions and adultery were social taboos
family allowance was introduced in 1977 paid directly to the mother to ensure the woman did not have to work
1950s women’s lives
in 1951 the mass observation survey captured a woman’s typical day
700 working class housewives in London took part
their day consisted of cleaning, shopping and cooking.
majority of these women were against a women going to work believing a woman’s place is in the home.
unequal pay
by 1964 the number of women working had risen, still relatively uncommon.
between 1951 and 1961 the % of women working only rose from 26% to 35%
average female wage was 2/3s less than a males
trade unions tended not to support women working as they believed it would lower male wages
equal pay for teachers was introduced in 1952
labour saving consumer goods
women’s lives in the home improved with new labour saving devices
195 and 1959 the number of households owning a washing machines rose by 54% and a refrigerator by 58%
without the washing machine, washing clothes would take a full day
