Women's Rights After The War Flashcards
Describe changes in work after the war.
1919, Restoration of Pre-War Practises Act, meant that women in munitions were given two weeks to leave and domestic servants had to leave.
While women in the south could join new industries such as radio, women in the north struggled with the dying industry.
By 1928 90% of women stayed at home, employment had hardly changed.
In 1919 the Sex Disqualification Act was passed, a promising act to make it illegal to refuse employment based on gender, women could now be solicitors, barristers, and magistrates.
Describe social changes for women.
While women could attend school for longer education was still influenced by gender roles.
Contraception was more available in in 1921 the Marie Stopes Clinic was set up and family sizes fell.
Flappers would dress in short skirts and go out without chaperones.
The franchise was extended as the government believed women had earned the vote and men in the army for over 12 months couldn’t vote. In 1916 an all-party committee was set up to change regulation and the suffragettes encouraged the government to give women the vote which they did on a sliding scale.
Describe the representation of people act (1918) and it’s criticisms.
This included women over 30 who: owned property or married somebody who owned property; were a university graduate; lived in accommodation where they paid at least £5 for rent. Many munitions women under 30 were excluded and older working class women. However in 1919 Nancy Astor was te first female MP in Parliament and this also saw women joining the cabinet with Margaret Bondfield the minister of Labour.
What was passed in March 1928?
The equal franchise act. This came into effect on 2 July and gave women over 21 the vote equally to men.
