UK depth study: Women

Question 1

What was the impact of WW2 on women?

Answer 1

Women flooded into workplace in replacement of men

Crucial for the war effort

Question 2

Fact about number of women in WW2 workforce

Answer 2

By mid 1943
90% of single women are employed
80% of married women are employed

Question 3

What happened after 1945 to women in the workplace?

Answer 3

1950’s saw a return to ‘women’s jobs’ for women
Many returned to being full time housewives and mothers
However some remained in the workplace or wanted to

Question 4

What type of employment developed after 1945 that was extremely popular for women?

Answer 4

Part time employment
Could work and do household chores in spare time
Mothers could work in kids school hours

Question 5

What gender issues were there in the workplace?

Answer 5

Equal pay

Opportunity

Question 6

What happened in 1955 that effected equal pay?

Answer 6

Gov’t agreed to phase in pay rises until equal pay for women

Question 7

Why were women discriminated against in the workplace?

Answer 7

Seen as an unreliable workforce

Could only work until they married or had children

Question 8

What enabled the role of a mother to change?

Answer 8

Day nurseries

School meals - children didn’t come home at lunchtime

Question 9

What treaty changed Women’s pay in law for the UK?

Answer 9

The Treaty of Rome, which was signed in 1973 for the UK to enter the common market of the EU.
Stated that women had to have equal pay

Question 10

What did Barbara Castle (labour employment minister) introduce in 1970?

Answer 10

Equal Pay Act

Came into effect 1975 - allowed companies time to adapt for equal pay and wage increases

Question 11

Why were Women discriminated against?

Answer 11

Attitudes
Unreliable workforce (for the workplace)
Religiously seen as below man in the family

Question 12

What act was introduced in 1975 to eliminate any discrimination because of gender?

Answer 12

Sex Discrimination Act 1975

Question 13

What rights gave the women more power in the 1960’s?

Answer 13

Right to divorce
Right to have an abortion
Right to access reliable contraception
Right to take control of her own fertility

Question 14

What did the Abortion Act in 1967 prevent women doing to have an abortion?

Answer 14

Going to backstreet clinics

100000 backstreet abortions annually before 1967

Question 15

What did the 1969 Divorce Reform Act change?

Answer 15

No guilty partner needed for a divorce
Men had equal rights to women over divorce
Before women could refuse divorce as it was financially crippling for them