The Changing Role and Status of Women

Question 1

women suffrage

Answer 1

1918-ROPA limit to women over 30 . 8.5 million
BUT
- only 17 parliament candidates and only 1 won - Constance Markivicz
MPs worried the “flapper vote” was to emotional and irresponsible to vote
National Union of Societies for Equal Citizenship out pressure on MPs
1926: organises a sustained campaign - regular meetings in Hyde park
3,500 women gathered for equal rights demonstration
- relied on sympathy of goodwill MPs - those who thought women would be advantageous

1928: universal suffrage on equal terms

Question 2

women in politics

Answer 2

structure and attitudes of main parties
NUSEC lacked expertise and party machinery
1928: split
labour and tory recognised need for women but did not want to loose any safety seats
+ failed to promote female issues
female groups were incorporated into national organisations where outnumbered by men
- women made important contributions to social policies : criminal law amendment act +bastardy act
(social issues, health care education - extension of traditional expertise+ cannot juggle being MP in west minsiter

by 1945- male MPs were growing used to considering female issues more seriously, influence a range of social legislation passed post war

Question 3

work

Answer 3

1914: 3.3 million working women
1918: 4.8 million
BUT trade unions reinstated men post war

Sex disqualification removal Act 1919- removed the gender bar in the civil service and law = incentive to to consider other professions

1919 Restoration of Pre War Practices Act = women who had been employed in factories were forced to return to pre war employment or stop working
+ “marriage Bar’ (expectation to stop working once married) was re established

little movement towards achieving equal pay and opportunities for women

1931: 90% of married women did not work , almost same figure at 1911 - not able to get unemployment benefit due to pay rule to be a supplement of her husband’s
women should work for “pin money”

Question 4

social life

Answer 4

work = extra money , independence and sociability = permanent shift in female aspirations beyond the home
“flappers” - smoking , dresses

1918- published Married Love advoacitng birth control and sexual fulfilment - BUT printed information was banned under obscenity laws

1921- first birth control clinic in London
(despite opposition from medical professions and and conservative groups - demand for birth control groups saw the spread)

1923- wife could divorce her husband on adultery BUT men were still dominant , houses in husbands names = financially dependent

cult of domesticity in 1918 - 39. governments encouraged women to stay at home , emphasising that the breeding oh healthy babies was a national duty . aided by state run infant welfare centres . motherhood and employment were depicted as being totally incompatible
“good housekeeping” - magazine was most widely read