women Flashcards
how were women enfranchised during the 1910s-20s?
Representation of the People Act 1918
* married to an educated man / educated women given the vote
* all men over 21 given the vote
* amd eup 43% of electoral (WW1 loss of men)
Representation of the People Act 1928
* all women ocver 21 given the vote
what was the nature of women’s work during and directly after WW1?
- Over 1 mil employed in metal/chemical
- dilution agreement 1914 (unsklled/women workers replace fighter but not paid higher wages and owuld leave work after the war)
- numbers mostly returned to 1914 levels
- generally considered a return to traditional gender ideology
what was the nature of “woman’s work” in the 20s
- most worked in service (1.5 million 1918)
- WC - factry work
- MC / edcated- clerical work (300,00 growth between 1921-31)
- light manufacturing - poorly paid and little incentive for women’s wage to increase
- housework - 2/3 of all WC women’s work
how did the nature of MC women’s work change in the 20s?
- representation of the peoples act 1918 - only for married MC people, not any sffergettes wanted WC women to vote
- sex disqulaification act 1919 - allowe dwomen to get degrees and join the professional sphere eg. lawyers and doctors
still not widespread - only 2 structural and civil engineers
teachers ahd to leave the professtion when they got marries
who was Ivy Williams
first woman called to the english bar (argue in court)
qualified as a lawyer 20yrs before but only allowed in 1922
how did WW2 benefit women?
increase in employment -
munifitons factories, uniform manufacturing ect. mostly women
* Women’s Volunry Service - civil defense
* cryptanalysts and translators
- better paid
- new skills and opportunities
- gained certain levels of importance/seniority
what was the expectation of women after WW2
- women would return to the home - not social change
- lift of marriage bar eg. teachers lifted in 1944
- 198 study - women didnt want to work after marriage but the need for income required it, women didnt define themselves by their work
what was the Dagenham Sewing machinists strike?
1968
* female sewers in Ford Motors paid 15% less than men ]strike for 3 weeks
* barbara Castle negotiated with strikers 7% increase in wages
* one of main causes of equl pay act 1970
how much did women advance politically 50s-70s?
not much
* MPs stayed constant between 20-30 womens
* prejudice - belief women would be distracted by otherhod/domestic work
* margret Thatcher - found difficult to be elected to Conservative Association due to misogyny
how was marriage reformed in the 30s?
- before - marraige only allowed if there was adultry
- MP Herbert - campiagned for reforms
- 1937 Matrimonial Causes Act - divorce in unfaithful or desertion
- abdication crisis - Wallace Simpson still portrayed as a manioulative gold digger
what was the nature of bith control in the 30s?
- Stopes - 1921 founded first contraceptive clinic (condemned as dirty)
- 1930s - acceptable for clinics to give advice to married women who already ahs one child, when anothe child would be detrimental to their health
- General Medical Council - married wmen contraceptive advice (mostly for MC women with wc women not benefitting)
waht was an example of women embraing self-expression in the 20s-30s?
who mostly indulged in this?
flapper girls
* reject edwardian fasion
* embraced boyish aesthetics (short hair, boxy figures, flat chests)
* drinking and smoking ( un-ladylike activities)
*
mostly mc as had to have large income and lots of leisure time
how were women effected by the great depresson?
- women expected to provide for husand and children so went without so they could have
- 1933 Hungry England - many women starved themselves to feed their families
- WC women ahd many children so stuggled on unemployment benefits to feed families
what was discovered about womens mental health in the 50s?
the housewife was often isolated and lonley
* 60% uncontented with their lives
* consumer society presented women with greater choice
* “squeezed like sardines in Suburbia” - Betty Jerman
* National Housewives register (cater to islated women)
what was second wave feminism ?
Womens Liberation 1960s
focused on :
* birth control
* domestic violence
* sexism
* objectification of women in pron
* marriage reform
how was birth control and abortion reformed in the 1960s?
- 1961 birth control pill - gave women control over won sexuality
- previosuly men controled contraception - now women controlled fertility and could enjoy sex
- by 1980s only 25% of womenhad children by 25
- 1967 abortion legalised - saved many women from backstreet abortions
what was the impact of women’s liberation (second wave feminism)?
- focus on economic liberation
- growth of women’s gropups in london (4-50)
- Women’s Liberation Workshops - recognise everyday activism and shared experiences
- growth in female political conciousness.
what is the Femal Eunuch?
1970 Gernaine Greer feminist novel
* men control over women has trapped them into gender roles
* women cause to hate their bodies due to patriarchy
* women cut off from their own sexuality.
what happened at the 1970 Miss World Pagent?
- protest groups threw flour bombs on the all male judges
- The Angry Brigade attacked the BBC team sent to cover the event
these did not seem to be connected
what organisation did Erin Pizzey set up in Chiswick
whatdid it lead to?
domestic violence refuge
* was not identified as a feminist - women violent too
* centres for victims of DV and their children
lead to:
* National Women’s Aid Federation 1974 - 40 independant women’s refuges
* legislation against DV - Domestic Violence and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1976
what was the Abortion Amendment Act?
what was the reaction?
1975
* time limits on abortions (20 weeks)
* girls seen as abusing abortion - use as contraception
- National Abortion Campaign - protect british abortion rights
- over 80,00 women marched in London to protest the Corrie Bill (reduction of abortion rights)
