Changing Attitudes to Women in Society, Dundee Heritage Trust

Britain, 1851-1951: Changing Attitudes to Women

1. An evaluation of the reasons why Britain became more democratic, 1851-1928.
2. An assessment of how democratic Britain became, 1867-1928.
3. An evaluation of the reasons why women won greater political equality by 1918.
4. An evaluation of the reasons why the Liberals introduced social welfare reforms, 1906-14.
5. An assessment of the effectiveness of the Liberal social welfare reforms.
6. An assessment of the effectiveness of the Labour social welfare reforms, 1945-51.

Today's Learning Intention: to evaluate the reasons why some women got the vote in 1918, specifically to understand the significance of changing attitudes to women in society.

• Changing attitudes to women in society
• Suffragist campaign
• Suffragette campaign
• Women in the war effort, 1914-18
• Example of other countries

Success Criteria for Understanding Women's Changing Lives

Success Criteria:

• To describe the ways in which the lives of women changed in late 19th century and early 20th century Britain.
• To explain why changing attitudes helped get women the vote.

Starter Task: Role of Women in 19th Century Britain

STARTER TASK:

• Read the handout you have been given.
• This will give you an idea about the role of women in 19th century Britain.

Votes for Women in Britain, 1851-1951

• As more and more men became enfranchised throughout the late 19th century, women were still excluded completely.
• Pressure came to change this particularly at the turn of the 20th century.
• But many were still against votes for women, including Queen Victoria who referred to the idea as a "mad and wicked folly".

WhataWoman may be, and yet not have fine Vote MAYOR NURSE MOTHER DOCTOROF TEACHER FACTORYHAND - WhataMan may have been,& yet not lose the Vote CONVICT LUNATIC Proprietor of white Slaves Unfit for Service DRUNKARD

Women in Work: Economic Contributions

• More and more women were working by the turn of the century.
• E.g. Jute mills in Dundee were predominantly women.
• This showed that it wasn't just men who were working - if women were part of the 'work' sphere why were they forbidden from other parts of the 'male' sphere?
• Women showed that their work during First World War meant they were needed to keep the country running.

Changes in Law Affecting Women

• There were some changes to the law in the late 19th century that gave women more influence in society:
• 1873 - Infant Custody Act:
  • Granted women custody of children in the case of divorce.
• 1894 Local Government Act:
  • Gave women the right to vote in local government elections.

Pressure for Change in Women's Rights

• Such changes led to more and more pressure for women to get the vote.
• This view is summed up well by the historian Martin Pugh:
  • " ... their [women's] participation in local government made women's exclusion from national elections increasingly untenable."
• Would the changing attitudes to women in society be enough alone, though, to bring about tangible change?

WO PO VOTES FOR WOMEN RO: 23TOV

Key Points: Women in Politics - Elizabeth Garrett

K: Women starting to get into positions of power. In 1907, Elizabeth Garrett elected Mayor of Aldeburgh. A: Helped women get the vote because it showed that women could do a good job in politics and that people wanted them to. A+: Less important in helping women get the vote because it was simply a one off for an exceptional woman, does not show support for women across the country.

Key Points: Women in Politics - Local Government Act

пилл- THE Local Government Act, 1894, WITH FULL EXPLANATORY NOTES, INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT; AND AN APPENDIX CONTAINING THE INCORPORATED ACTS AND THE REGULATIONS OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD. WALTER C. RYDE, M.A., Editor of "Rrperte e/ Bating Appeals, 1866-90 and 1801-50," and Joint Eliter of "The Local Government det, 1888 .** OF THE INNEN TEMPEN, BARRISTER-AT-LAW. LONDON: REEVES & TURNER, 100, CHANCERY LANE, AND CAREY STREET, Yals Booksellers and Publishers. 1894

K: 1907 - women permitted to stand for election in local councils for the first time. Five women were elected. A: Helped women get the vote because their participation in local government made women's exclusion from national elections increasingly untenable. A+: Less important in women getting the vote because it was only 5 women compared with 1000s of men. Shows little demand for female politicians.

Task: Evaluating Women's Social and Political Progress

TASK:

• Copy each of the below statements with plenty of space below each (or copy each one, answer the questions for it, then move on to the next statement).

1. Women had made no social or political progress before 1900.
2. Women had made some social but no political progress before 1900.
3. Women were second class citizens in all ways before 1900.
4. Women had made considerable social and some political progress before 1900.
5. Women could not be called second class citizens before 1900.

• For each, state whether you think it is true or false, explaining why.
• E.g. This statement is true because ...