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.
Political Advancement, 1951-1979
- Didn’t progress significantly.
- Amount of female MPs stayed between 20 and 30 (dipped in 1951 and 1979).
- Prejudiced belief that women would be too preoccupied with domestic duties to fulfil MP role.
- Rarely selected for cabinet - 1 or 2 was norm.
Amount of MPs in 1951 and 1964
1951 was the lowest:
- 17 MPs - 2.7%
1964 was the highest:
- 29 MPs - 4.6%
Family life and personal freedoms, 1918-1939
- Role and status in society remained largely unchanged - seen as homemakers.
- Few gains: divorce, birth control, self expression.
- However, mainly experienced was by MC women - little positive change for WC women.
Context behind divorce changes, 1918-1939
- First act allowing women to divorce = 1857 Matrimonial Causes act.
- Still major issues by the 1930s:
= Couldn’t divorce via mutual consent.
= Attempt to prove adultery was farcical.
= Had to lie in court. If both were unfaithful, then no divorce.
1937 Matrimonial Causes Act
- Proposed by independent MP, AP Herbert.
- Could divorce if either was unfaithful as well as desertion after 3 years (opposed by Catholic church).
- Abdication crisis in 1936
Divorce petitions before and after the 1937 act
Before 1937:
- 4,800 per year.
1951:
- 38,000 per year.
Marie Stopes and birth control
- 1921: Eugenicist Marie Stopes opens first birth control clinic.
- Doctors and clergyman critical of “filthy” and “unnatural” clinics.
Changes in birth control, 1918-1939
- 1930: Govt decided it was essential local authorities could fund birth control clinics for health purposes.
- Labour had voted against this in 1927.
- CofE allowed married members to use birth control - Catholic church didn’t.
- Condoms could be bought from chemists.