Progress towards equality (AQA GCSE History): Revision Notes
Progress towards equality
The fight for women's rights didn't end with gaining the vote. The campaign for women's suffrage marked just the beginning of a longer journey towards gender equality that continued throughout the 20th century and beyond. This ongoing struggle involved expanding women's participation in government, securing equal treatment in the workplace, and dismantling legal barriers that prevented women from achieving full equality.
Extension of the franchise, 1918 and 1928
The outbreak of the First World War fundamentally changed the campaign for women's voting rights. When Britain entered the conflict, many suffrage campaigners chose to pause their protests and instead focus their efforts on supporting the war. This decision proved strategically important for their cause.
The decision to pause suffrage protests during wartime was controversial among campaigners, but it ultimately helped demonstrate women's patriotism and commitment to national service, which proved crucial for their political cause.
During wartime, women stepped into roles traditionally held by men who were away fighting. They worked in munitions factories, drove buses, served as administrators, and took on police duties. This demonstrated women's capabilities beyond the domestic sphere and challenged the long-held "separate spheres" doctrine that had kept women confined to home life.
The "separate spheres" doctrine was a fundamental barrier to women's equality. This Victorian belief system held that men belonged in the public sphere (work, politics, business) while women belonged in the private sphere (home, family, moral guidance). The war effort directly challenged this rigid division.
The significant contribution women made to the war effort helped convince politicians that women deserved political representation. In 1918, women over 30 were granted the right to vote, though this still excluded many younger women. Complete electoral equality wasn't achieved until 1928, when women gained voting rights on the same terms as men.
However, the transition wasn't entirely smooth. Many women were expected to return to domestic roles when men came back from war, and those who continued working often received lower wages than their male counterparts.
Women in government representation
Progress in parliamentary representation came gradually but steadily, with each milestone breaking new ground for women's political participation.
Timeline of key milestones
1919 - Nancy Astor became the first woman to actually take her seat as a Member of Parliament. Notably, she wasn't the first woman elected - that was Constance Markievicz in 1918, but as an Irish Republican, Markievicz refused to take the oath of loyalty to the monarch and never took her seat.
1958 - Women were permitted to sit in the House of Lords for the first time, breaking another significant barrier to female political participation.
1965 - Barbara Castle achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first female minister of state, demonstrating that women could hold senior government positions.
1979 - Margaret Thatcher was elected as Britain's first female Prime Minister, reaching the highest office in the land and proving women could lead the country.
1992 - Betty Boothroyd became the first female Speaker of the House of Commons, taking on one of Parliament's most prestigious roles.
2017 - By this date, 32% of Members of Parliament were women, showing continued progress towards balanced representation.
Despite significant progress, women's representation in Parliament still falls short of the 50% that would reflect the general population. This shows that achieving true equality in political representation remains an ongoing challenge.
The impact of women in parliament
Since 1918, female MPs have championed numerous legislative changes that improved women's rights and opportunities. This political representation proved crucial for advancing gender equality through the legal system.
Key legislation included:
Matrimonial Causes Act (1923) - This groundbreaking law established equal divorce rights for both men and women, ending a system where different standards applied based on gender.
Sex Discrimination Act (1975) - This comprehensive legislation made it illegal to discriminate against women in employment, education, and training, providing legal protection against unfair treatment.
Employment Protection Act (1975) - This law banned employers from dismissing women simply because they became pregnant, protecting women's job security during motherhood.
Equal Opportunity Commission establishment (1976) - This body was created to enforce anti-discrimination laws and promote gender equality in various sectors.
Financial independence measures (1980) - Women gained the right to apply for loans and credit in their own names, ending their financial dependence on male relatives.
Separate taxation (1990) - Married women could finally be taxed separately from their husbands, recognising them as independent financial entities.
Worked Example: Impact of the Sex Discrimination Act (1975)
Before 1975: A qualified female teacher could be rejected for a headmaster position simply because she was a woman, with employers openly stating "we only hire men for leadership roles."
After 1975: Such discrimination became illegal. If a woman was rejected for a position due to her gender, she could take legal action through the courts and the Equal Opportunity Commission would investigate.
This law didn't just change individual cases - it transformed workplace culture by making gender-based discrimination a legal liability for employers.
The fight for equal pay
The struggle for equal wages became a major focus of the women's rights movement. On 7 June 1968, women machinists at Ford's Dagenham plant took decisive action by going on strike. These workers had discovered their jobs were classified as less skilled than comparable roles performed by men, despite requiring similar abilities and training.
The strike had immediate economic impact - when the car seat covers ran out, Ford's entire production line had to stop. This demonstrated how women's work was essential to major industries, even when it was undervalued.
Barbara Castle, who served as Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity, became involved in resolving the dispute. The strike concluded with an agreement that immediately raised the women's pay to 8% below men's wages, with promises of full equality the following year.
The Dagenham strike lasted three weeks and received significant media attention. The women's determination and the economic disruption they caused helped shift public opinion about the value of women's work and their right to equal treatment.
This campaign contributed to the passage of the Equal Pay Act in 1970. MP Shirley Summerskill praised the Dagenham machinists for playing a "very significant part in the history of the struggle for equal pay."
Despite this legislative progress, wage inequality persisted. Even today, women still earn approximately 30% less than men on average, showing that full economic equality remains an ongoing challenge.
Timeline of major events
- 1918 - Women over 30 gain the vote
- 1919 - Nancy Astor becomes first woman MP to take her seat
- 1923 - Matrimonial Causes Act gives equal divorce rights
- 1928 - Women gain equal voting rights with men
- 1958 - Women allowed in House of Lords
- 1965 - Barbara Castle becomes first female minister of state
- 1968 - Dagenham machinists' equal pay strike
- 1970 - Equal Pay Act passed
- 1975 - Sex Discrimination Act and Employment Protection Act
- 1976 - Equal Opportunity Commission established
- 1979 - Margaret Thatcher becomes first female Prime Minister
- 1980 - Women gain financial independence rights
- 1990 - Separate taxation for married women
- 1992 - Betty Boothroyd becomes first female Speaker
Key Points to Remember:
- The First World War was crucial in advancing women's suffrage by demonstrating women's capabilities in traditionally male roles
- Progress towards equality required both winning the vote (1918-1928) and securing representation in government positions
- Legislative changes in the 1970s provided the legal framework for gender equality in employment and education
- The Dagenham machinists' strike in 1968 was pivotal in advancing the equal pay campaign and led to the 1970 Equal Pay Act
- Despite significant progress, full economic equality between men and women has not yet been achieved, with women still earning about 30% less than men on average