BIG BRITAIN WOMEN
1918-31
1918 REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE ACT
Vote extended to women >30
Comprised 43% of electorate in 1918 election
WARTIME EMPLOYMENT
Thousands worked in auxiliaries, nurses, drivers, etc
1914 gov ‘dilution’ agreement with TU = semi-skilled female workers could
replace the skilled workers who went off to war
o [-] Employment only lasted as long as war & limitations of wages
No. of employed women returned to 1914 levels (~6 mil) post war
By 1918, >1mil worked in metal and chemical industries
‘WOMAN’S WORK’
Typically working ‘in service’ – e.g., maids, cooks, cleaners, etc
1918: >1mil women working ‘in service’ = unpopular roles – restricted due to
prejudice
Educated women did clerical work - >1mil employed by 1921
1919 FIRST FEMALE MP
Conservative, Nancy Astor
1919 SEX DISQUALIFICATION (REMOVAL) ACT
Removed bar against women working in law – benefited educated women
1920s FLAPPER CULTURE
Rejected Edwardian modesty – adopted shorter hairstyles + skirts
Popularised dancing, jazz, smoking and drinking = social freedoms
Growth of cinema – resulted in role models (e.g., Coleen Moore)
o Often seen as ‘un-ladylike’
o Despite ‘promiscuous’ perceptions – evidence suggests relative sexual
conformity
o Popular amongst middle-classes – due to financial and time constraints
1921 1ST BIRTH CONTROL CLINIC
Founded by Dr Marie Stopes in London – for married women only
1922 CRIMINAL LAW ACT
Increased age of consent from 13 to 16
1928 EQUAL FRANCHISE ACT
Enfranchised all women – now on par with men
OPPORTUNITY IMPROVEMENTS
1918-31
1918 REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE ACT
Vote extended to women >30
Comprised 43% of electorate in 1918 election
WARTIME EMPLOYMENT
Thousands worked in auxiliaries, nurses, drivers, etc
1914 gov ‘dilution’ agreement with TU = semi-skilled female workers could
replace the skilled workers who went off to war
o [-] Employment only lasted as long as war & limitations of wages
No. of employed women returned to 1914 levels (~6 mil) post war
By 1918, >1mil worked in metal and chemical industries
‘WOMAN’S WORK’
Typically working ‘in service’ – e.g., maids, cooks, cleaners, etc
1918: >1mil women working ‘in service’ = unpopular roles – restricted due to
prejudice
Educated women did clerical work - >1mil employed by 1921
1919 FIRST FEMALE MP
Conservative, Nancy Astor
1919 SEX DISQUALIFICATION (REMOVAL) ACT
Removed bar against women working in law – benefited educated women
1920s FLAPPER CULTURE
Rejected Edwardian modesty – adopted shorter hairstyles + skirts
Popularised dancing, jazz, smoking and drinking = social freedoms
Growth of cinema – resulted in role models (e.g., Coleen Moore)
o Often seen as ‘un-ladylike’
o Despite ‘promiscuous’ perceptions – evidence suggests relative sexual
conformity
o Popular amongst middle-classes – due to financial and time constraints
1921 1ST BIRTH CONTROL CLINIC
Founded by Dr Marie Stopes in London – for married women only
1922 CRIMINAL LAW ACT
Increased age of consent from 13 to 16
1928 EQUAL FRANCHISE ACT
Enfranchised all women – now on par with men
OPPORTUNITY IMPROVEMENTS
