Women's Rights in the 1890's

Question 1

Matrimonial Clauses Act

Answer 1

1857- Made it easier for a woman to get a divorce through ordinary courts.

• They had to prove their husband was an adulterer and had committed cruelty or desertion.
• Before the act, only parliament could grant divorces

Question 2

Married Women’s Property Act (I)

Answer 2

1870 - Gave women the right to keep their EARNINGS after they got married
- Before the act, it all went to the husband

Question 3

Married Women’s Property Act (II)

Answer 3

1882 - Allowed women to keep their property as well as their money

Question 4

Married Women (Maintenance in Case of Desertion) Act

Answer 4

1886 - Said that husband who left his wife should pay for her maintenance

Question 5

The Guardianship of Children Act

Answer 5

1886 - Gave women the right to take custody of their children if their marriage broke up or if the father died. This meant making sure the children were looked after and were left property

Question 6

What professions were open to women at this time?

Answer 6

1) Working in the textile industry, but low paid and poor condition
2) Access to education and higher class jobs was limited
3) Queen’s College London was opened to train teachers in 1848
4) Florence Nightingale set up a nursing training school

Question 7

Why couldn’t women vote in national elections?

Answer 7

1) They thought the public sphere was for men and women’s sphere was domestic
2) Women were thought of to be irrational and incapable of making big decisions
3) Men were householders, and politicians thought householders should only get the vote. Only some women were householders, so MPs thought it odd to give them the vote
4) If only rich women got the vote, they’d vote Conservative and Liberals didn’t like that idea

Question 8

How were women’s political rights improving?

Answer 8

• In 1984, married women were allowed to vote for DISTRICT COUNCILS and sit on them, but they couldn’t vote in NATIONAL elections, or become MPs themselves
• Rights elsewhere were improving, so getting the vote would be a natural step forward
• Women argued they were just as capable of making decisions
• Women were getting votes around the world: New Zealand being the first country in 1983