Women’s rights from 1900-1980

1900 – 1910

During this time, women did not yet have their right to vote, however Emmeline Pankhurst founded
The Women’s Social and Political Union in 1903 in Manchester along with her daughters Christabel
and Sylvia, alongside Annie Kearney. However, Christabel and Annie did not stay out of trouble, as in
1905 they both served a prison sentence rather than pay a fine after being found guilty of disrupting
an election rally. This sentence helped to bring the campaign for votes for women a great deal of
publicity and it was soon after that the press started to use the term ‘suffragettes’ to describe the
more assertive campaigners.

1910-1920

In 1913, the ‘Cat and Mouse’ Act is enacted in Britain which allowed the government to temporarily
discharge women prisoners that were hunger striking for the vote when they became seriously ill
until they were fit enough to be imprisoned again, and then they would be rearrested. In this same
year, Emily Wilding Davison who became a martyr to the cause of women’s suffrage when she
entered the racetrack of the 1913 Epsom Derby and stood in front of King George V’s horse, which
struck her while it was galloping at full force. She unfortunately never regained consciousness and
passed away four days later. However, her impact stayed with everyone as she protested so much to
get women voting rights, and 5 years after her passing, the vote was given to women over 30 and the
Parliamentary Qualification of Women Act is passed which enabled women to stand as MP.

1920-1930

In 1920, The Sex Discrimination Removal Act allowed women access to the legal profession as well as
accountancy. This meant that women were able to become lawyers and accountants. 2 years after
this, the Law of Property Act allows both husband and wife to inherit property equally. Finally after a
long fight for voting rights, in 1928, all women in Britain gain equal voting rights with men, and a year
later the first general election in which women are allowed to vote occurs. Women finally become
‘persons’ in their own right by order of the Privy Council.

1940-1960

In 1941, the National Service Act is passed which introduced conscription (compulsory enlistment for
state service, typically the armed forces), which meant that all women between the ages of 20 and
43 are called up for war work. After this in 1948, the introduction of the NHS gives everyone free
access to healthcare. A lot later, in 1956, legal reforms away that women teachers and civil servants
should receive equal pay. The same year, The Sexual Offences Act defines rape under specific criteria.

1960-1970

The Married Women’s Property Act in 1964 entitles a woman to keep any savings that she has made
from the allowance she is given by her husband. A year later, Barbara Castle is appointed Minister of
Transport which makes her the first female minister of state. In 1967, The Abortion Act took the
concept of well-being further, by making it known that an abortion was in fact lawful if ‘the
continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated, of
injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman.’ In the same year, the contraceptive
pill becomes available through Family Planning Clinics. The NHS (Family Planning)Act permits health
authorities to give contraceptive advice regardless of marital status and the Family Planning
Association follows suit soon after.

1970-1980

In 1970, the Equal Pay Act makes it illegal to pay women lower rates than men for the same work. It
is a direct results of women’s strike action of the women at the Ford Car Factory in Dagenham’s strike
over equal pay and pressure from the women’s movement. In this same year, The Miss World
Competition is interrupted by female protestors that claimed the contest was a ‘Cattle Market’ They
threw flour and smoke bombs, inaugurating the first protest event organised by the women’s
movement. In 1972 Erin Pizzey set up the first women’s refuge in Chiswick, London. In 1975, The Sex
Discrimination Act makes it illegal to discriminate against women in work, education and training.
This same year, The Employment Protection Act introduces statutory maternity provision and makes
it illegal to sack a woman from her job because she is pregnant. In 1977, the first Rape Crisis Centre
opens in London. And finally in 1979, Margaret Thatcher becomes the first female prime minister.

All of this information will help to further develop our ensemble piece because it helps us to better
understand the emotions and the feelings of women during different eras because of the limitations
and laws against them during these times. This means we can play the characters more accurately to
women of these times and make sure we have the facts accurately.

Sources:

https://www.citywomen.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/gender-equality-timeline.pdf
https://www.nationalarchibes.gov.uk/education/resources/cats-and-mice/#:~:text=In
%201913%20the%20Prisoners%20Temporary,and%20re%2Darrested%20when%20recovered
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Emily-Davison