Theme 3b) Women Flashcards
Political Changes, 1918-1939:
1918 ROPA
- Property owning women over 30 could vote.
- Specifics meant only respectable and educated women could vote.
- 43% of the electorate - Dec 1918: 8.4 million.
- Mainly voted Tory.
Political Changes, 1918-1939:
1928 ROPA
- Voting rights on the same terms as men (21+)
Overall:
- Didn’t gain much of a voice due to very few female MPs.
- Plus, they mainly voted in line with their husband.
Political Changes, 1918-1939:
Women in politics faced prejudice
- Male dominated - never more than 5% female MPs (peak was 15MPs in 1931).
- Petty restrictions - couldn’t use HofC dining room.
“Boys school that allowed girls to visit”
Political Changes, 1918-1939:
Women in politics were drawn to labour
- Labour were the party of social reform.
- 9 female Labour MPs over this period.
- 150,000 female members.
Women were more influential at _____ level. However, there were still ____ than ___ of councillors were women.
Women were more influential at local level. However, there were still less than 15% of councillors were women.
Employment Opportunities, 1918-1939
- The employment gains of WW1 overturned - number of employed women returned to 1914 levels = 5.7 million.
- Union deals meant that female employment lasted as long as the war did. They were alo paid less than the men they were replacing.
Employment - ‘Women’s Work’ (1918-1939)
- Largest source of work for WC women = cook, cleaner, maid. - 1.25 million in service (1918).
- Class split - WC in service roles whereas MC in clerical roles.
- Clerical work was the biggest growth area for female employment - 1920s: 1 million typists.
- Some employment in light industries but it was poorly paid - no incentive to pay higher because unemployment benefit was lower than men’s.
- 2/3 of all WC women work done from home (baking etc.)
Employment - Middle Class Women (1918-1939)
- Suffrage campaign resulted in the 1918 ROPA.
- MC women didn’t want WC to be able to vote.
- Some gradual improvements: Sex Disqualification (removal) Act, 1919 - Unis accepted women; civil service and law bans lifted.
- Married women expected to stay at home - had to leave teaching profession once married.
What did WW2 offer?
Increase in opportunities:
- Worked in factories.
- Some were spies overseas.
- Non-combat roles: cooks, drivers etc.
Practical benefits of WW2
- Better pay
- Acquired skills
- Reached levels of importance and seniority not available in ordinary civilian life.
Economic Advancements, 1945-1951
- Govt hoped women would go back to domesticity after the war.
- Marriage bar began to be lifted:
Teaching in 1944, Civil Service in 1946, and Bank of England in 1949. - However, many inherited the values of previous generations.
Economic Advancements, 1945-1951:
Inherited the values of previous generations
- Didn’t see their work as part of their identity.
- Need extra income to work.
- Widespread desire to end work when married.
- Careerists women seen as unusual - were thought to have failed as their primary role of mother and home-maker.
Economic Advancements, 1951-1979
- Increased opportunities
- End of the marriage bar meant women worked for longer - 50% of married women retaining their jobs by 1972.
- Until the late 1950s, the norm was that women were paid on average 40% less than men.
Dagenham Sewing Machinists’ Strike, 1968
- At Ford motor company
- Decided to pay women making seat covers 15% less than men in equivalent jobs.
- Went on strike for 3 weeks.
- Barbara Castle negotiated a 7% increase.
- However, equal pay not established until strike in 1984.
- IMPACT: Raised issue of unequal pay and cause of Equal Pay Act.
Equal Pay Act, 1970
- Labour manifesto commitment since 1959.
- 1965: TUC agreed to support it.
- Came into effect in 1970.
- Prerequisite for joining EEC.
Sex Discrimination Act, 1975
Equal Opportunities Commission established:
- Ensure women had legal protection against harassment and discrimination at work.,
- Also that fair employment practices were observed.
- Established tribunals to deal with this.
