The Changing Lives of Women: 1950-75 Revision Notes
Women 1950-75 Timeline
Event(s)
1948
· NHS (National Heath Service) set up.
1950
· Abortion is illegal and dangerous to the mother, as they unauthorized abortions often happen in unhygienic place.
1951
· Women made up 31% of the labor force
· 36% of adult women were working.
1955-56
· Britain economy began to finally recover from the war. This meant that women were able to get a job if they wanted - a shortage of workers increased demand for women workers. Wages also increased faster than the prices so there was more spending money available, for a married women the wages of the main earner could support the entire family.
· Government agrees to pay women equal who work in the public sector.
1957
· First birth control pill available
1950s-60s
· Marriage became more common, women were marrying younger and there was a baby boom.
1961
· Birth control Pill approved - dispensed under NHS, needed a doctors prescription.
1960s (early)
· 35% of working class women and 21% of middle class women felt they had married too early.
· Many women felt like they had missed out.
· 62% of women didn't know what their husband earned.
· Many women felt that education and work were geared towards men.
1960s
· some campaigning women groups allied with trade unions about the issue of unequal treatment of women in the workplace, In the public sector, people who were paid by the govt. these changes were accepted quickly. Striking occurred and women machinists went of strike and car production fell because there were no seats to put in the cars.
· Most people now lived in homes with gas, electricity and piped water. jobs like bringing in the coal became less of a feature in women lives. Electricity meant access to many labor saving devices. Fridges meant that there was less need for shopping trips, washing machine became more sophisticated. Vacuum cleaners made housework quicker.
· Women's movement groups were formed and became more common and influential. Two important organizations (the Fawcett Society) and the Six Point Group) [six points were political occupational, moral,social, economic and legal equality for women] In the 1960s they were active campaigners for equal treatment/equal pay
1965
· Peak of Baby boom
· Catholic Church opposed to contraception.
1966
· Labour voted in, promised to get rid of sex discrimination.
1960s -70s
· bar was raised in 1960-70s. As choices broadened many women were expected to participate in them and achieve great things.
· TV began to take over and by the 1970s anyone who wanted one had one.
· Magazines began to change focusing less on the domestic side and pushing more emphasis on film star and celebrities.
1968
· around 2 million women were using the pill in Britain.
· Abortion became available if 2 doctors agreed it was necessary. It was carried out on registered premises, if the baby was not capable of independently surviving.
1969
· Mose major British towns had women's liberation groups.
· Divorce Reform Act - before this couples could only get a divorce if there had been some sort of offense - it was usually the women fault if the marriage broke down.
1970
· Babara Castle (Minister of Labour) tried to get unions and employers to negotiate voluntary scheme for equal treatment however this failed to the government brought in the Equal Pay Act in 1970. Under this act women and men had to receive the same pay if they were doing the same job. However, the act didn't prevent employers paying more money to men if they had greater experience or training even if they only made training available to men. Also it did nothing about the fact that women were passed over for promotions. The act was also not enforced until 1975.
· Women's liberation groups came together in an annual conference and agree four demands 1. equal pay 2. equal education and opportunity 3. 24 hour nurseries 4. free contraception and abortion on demand.
· .Matrimonial Property Act of 1970 recognized that a wife's work was valuable and built up the wealth of the couple. This mean that women usually got a share of the family assets e.g. the home in the couples divorce. divorce rate rose 3.5 times/
1971
· 38% made up the labor force
· many employers liked employing women because they were paid less
· 52% of adult women were working.
· More woman began working after marriage and having children. However these women were often resented by male colleagues. Working mothers were blamed for crimes and unruly behavior by their children. Male colleagues thought that women were less committed. They rarely received promotions and even when they were oing the same job as a man they were paid less.
1975
· Equal Pay Act of 1970 begins to be enforced.
REVISION NOTES
The 50's
Women were allowed to work as there was a shortage of workers. There was better housing as old houses had been destroyed. Free healthcare is available, less rationing, free education for their children & good films at the cinema.
However, women can't do every job, they are less paid than men & it's hard to divorce. Foreign women faced racism. There was no reliable family planning & no abortion & women were taught that their highest ambition was as a wife & mother.
The average family size in 1952 was 2.2, today many couples delay childbearing so women can pursue their career. Accommodation was mostly rented & most women wanted to own a house. Things we deem essentials were regarded as luxuries and people had fewer material possesions.
However, women can't do every job, they are less paid than men & it's hard to divorce. Foreign women faced racism. There was no reliable family planning & no abortion & women were taught that their highest ambition was as a wife & mother.
The average family size in 1952 was 2.2, today many couples delay childbearing so women can pursue their career. Accommodation was mostly rented & most women wanted to own a house. Things we deem essentials were regarded as luxuries and people had fewer material possesions.
The Women's Movement in the 50's
- People knew little about feminism.
- Feminism was still associated with the sufragettes
- Views were outdated.
- Some writers declared their dislike for men & their ways at home
- No-one listed to them
- But the fawcett society & six point group turned out to be very influenctial
- Furthermore, the wheels were in motion for changes in women's lives
- Already family allowances & the NHS had been introduced
The Women's Movement in the 60's
- The Fawcett society and Six Point Group campaigned for equal pay for women & equal treatment of women
- They allied with trade unions & national council for civil liberties
- And so the Women's Liberation Movement was born
- By the late 60's it was growing in strength
- Women were creating new groups as others were dominated by men- they were dissatisfied with their role & status in society
- They organised 'conscienceness raising', making women aware of personal discrimination & their skills & rights to seize opportunities
- By 1969 liberation groups questioned the 'homemaker'.
- Most towns had a Women's Liberation Group
- They raised awareness of: domestic violence, gay rights, safety in industry & women conductors campaigned to drive their buses.
The Women's Movement in the 70's
In 1970 the first National Women's Conference was held. 500 women & 40 men attended. The 4 demands of the women were: Equal pay, equal education, 24 hour nurseries & free contraception & abortion on demand. Some ridiculed them but many women felt like something was finally happening.
Also in 1970, activists protested at the Miss World contest, shouting: 'We're not beautiful, we're not ugly, we're angry'. They ween't just protesting against the Miss World contest, but at the treatment & perception of women in society in general.
During this period, women campaigned by burning their bras & high heels to protest.
Also in 1970, activists protested at the Miss World contest, shouting: 'We're not beautiful, we're not ugly, we're angry'. They ween't just protesting against the Miss World contest, but at the treatment & perception of women in society in general.
During this period, women campaigned by burning their bras & high heels to protest.
Discrimination against women
Women were rarely in important jobs like law, they took lower status & pay jobs as men thought women were incapable of such jobs- they would just burst into tears under pressure and they were less committed. Working mothers were also blamed for the crimes of their unruly children.
Employers liked employing women as they were paid less & were easier to control. When a woman got married, she was obliged to give up her job- the marriage bar.
By the 60's, women in the public sector had equal pay, but not in the private sector. Women striked, for example in Dagenham where they caused car production to fall. Examples of discriminaion are that most jobs went to men, there had never been a woman editor of a newspaper/magazine & uneven pay.
Employers liked employing women as they were paid less & were easier to control. When a woman got married, she was obliged to give up her job- the marriage bar.
By the 60's, women in the public sector had equal pay, but not in the private sector. Women striked, for example in Dagenham where they caused car production to fall. Examples of discriminaion are that most jobs went to men, there had never been a woman editor of a newspaper/magazine & uneven pay.
Changes for Women & the factors
Changes for women started from WWII & the introduction of the NHS. In 1955 women in the public sector achieved equal pay & all women in 1970. This meant more women began working. In 1967 Abortion was made legal & the 1967 family planning act allowed the pill to be dispensed on the NHS. The 1969 Divorce reform act made divorce easier & the 1970 Matrimony property act allowed women to keep property. In 1971 the marriage bar collapsed & the Sex discrimination act in 1975 banned *** discrimination in the workplace. In 1976 the domestic violence act meant women didn't have to face violence. None of this would have happened if women hadn't campaigned for change.
Technology also helped change women's lives- vacuum cleaners, washing machines & refrigerators saw the move away from the domestic goddess, women had more time & men did some housework. These changes meant there was more pressure on women- they had to work & be mothers.
Technology also helped change women's lives- vacuum cleaners, washing machines & refrigerators saw the move away from the domestic goddess, women had more time & men did some housework. These changes meant there was more pressure on women- they had to work & be mothers.
Contraception, Abortion & Divorce
Feminists wanted free contraception so women could family plan, advice hadn't changed since the 20's. The pill was invented in 1951 & was free on the NHS in 1967, & by 1968 2 million women were taking it. It gave greater freedom & lower birth rates, increasing women's opportunities.
Before the pill there were many unwanted pregnancies & 200,000 illegal abortion were performed yearly, often dangerous & unhygienic. But in 1967 the abortion act was passed, making available legally & on demand.
The divorce reform act was passed in 1969, before it was only available if there had been adultery, now it could happen if marriage had simply broken down. The matrimonial act of 1970 allowed women to get a share of family assets after divorce, so women were no longer left in poverty. The divorce rate rose 3.5 times with over 100,000 divorces annually in the 70's.
Before the pill there were many unwanted pregnancies & 200,000 illegal abortion were performed yearly, often dangerous & unhygienic. But in 1967 the abortion act was passed, making available legally & on demand.
The divorce reform act was passed in 1969, before it was only available if there had been adultery, now it could happen if marriage had simply broken down. The matrimonial act of 1970 allowed women to get a share of family assets after divorce, so women were no longer left in poverty. The divorce rate rose 3.5 times with over 100,000 divorces annually in the 70's.