RESEARCH: The extent to the advancement of women's rights over a century

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/far-have-womens-rights-advanced-century/

Article published: 6th March 2018

In this article, a Telegraph's writer (Mark Marlow) writes about how women's rights have advanced over the period of one hundred years. This article was published in 2018 as it "marks the centenary of women gaining the right to vote in Great Britain and Ireland". The article goes on to talk about how the Representation of the People Act 1918 was given Royal Assent from George V. There is also a very interesting quote from the Home Secretary, at the time, George Cave, who said "War by all classes of our countrymen has brought us nearer together, has opened men's eyes, and removed misunderstanding on all sides. It has made it, I think, impossible that ever again, at all events in the lifetime of the present generation, there should be a revival of the odd class feeling which was responsible for so much, and amount other things, the exclusion for a period, of so many of our population from the class of electors. I think I need say no more to justify this extension of the franchise". George Cave was recorded to have said this when introducing the Bill, whilst presenting a united front, after the country returning from a world war.

In 1918, women were prevented from doing (by law):

• Applying for a credit card or loan in their own name.
• Working in the legal profession and civil service.
• Inheriting and bequeathing property on the same terms as men.
• Claiming equal pay for doing the same work as men.
• Prosecuting a spouse for rape.

Suffrage pioneer, Millicent Fawcett, and suffrage leaders, the Pankhursts, are considered "pivotal". These figures laid the foundations for political, social, and economic equality.

However, a century later there are still gender issues of women facing "gender barriers and prejudice" such as the gender pay gap, the Time's Up movement, the #MeToo movement, and other everyday sexism. The Fawcett Society is still working today to reduce the gap between the sexes.

A study from the Work Economic Forum, in 2017, stated that "it could still take another 100 years before the global equality gap between men and women disappears entirely". This is an interesting fact, which I plan to incorporate into my final project (possible conclusion?).

The fight for women's suffrage

• In the 1900s, women were held inferior to men, both socially and legally.
• Prior to 1870, married women were required to relinquish all property and earnings to their husbands - effectively giving women the same legal status as an insane person or a criminal.
• It would take another 120 years before martial rape becomes a criminal offence.
• Women were excluded from being elected onto borough or county councils or as an MP.
• They were prevented from accessing higher education units 1878.
• Professor Kathryn Hughes (an expert in Victorian science) - The two sets "inhabited what Victorians thought of as 'separate spheres', only coming together at breakfast and again at dinner".

Support for the movement grows

• 1866 - the London Society for Women's Suffrage presented a petition to Parliament asking for women to be granted the vote.
• Twenty years later - between 300,000 to 500,000 activists gathered in Hyde Park, at a rally, in support of the movement.
• 1913 - Emily Davidson gave her life whilst running onto the track of the Epsom Derby. She ultimately died after being hit by George V's horse. This is the most famous act, in the suffrage history.

In the workplace

• The Sex Discrimination Act 1919 meant that women could no longer be disqualified from certain professions on the grounds of sex.
• Women were able to work in the legal profession and accountancy. Could hold civil or judicial post.

Property

• Before 1870 - women had to give up all property rights and money earned to their husbands upon marriage.
• The Married Women's Property Act gave wives control of their own possessions and meant all money earned would be treated as her own property.
• 1922 - the Law of Property Act allowed both husband and wife to inherit property equally.
• Legislation passed four years latter meant women could hold and dispose of property on the same terms as men.

Women became 'people'

• 1929 -Canadian law declares women as "persons" in their own rights.
• Emily Murphy become the first female Magistrate in the British Empire, along with four others. There is a plaque in her honour in the chamber reads: "To further the cause of woman kind these five outstanding pioneer women caused steps to be taken resulting in the recognition by the Privy Council of women as persons eligible for appointment to the Senate of Canada". (use as an example of the influence of other countries?)

Equal pay

• 1968 - strike by 187 female workers at Ford car factory, in Dagenham. This was instrumental in passing the Equal Pay Act 1970. Male workers were earning 15% more than them.
• MP Shirley Summerskill - the women played a "very significant part in the history of the struggle for equal pay".

Discrimination

• The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 made it illegal discriminate against women in education, training, and especially the workplace. Women could apply for a credit card or lona in their own name.
• The Equality Act 2010 would eventually replace the previous Act, due to the development of anti-discrimination laws.

Marital rape

• 1991 - the House of Lords made rape within marriage a criminal offence in the UK.

Women's rights today

• People still attend marches and protests today. Figures include over five million people in eighty one countries worldwide.

In conclusion of this article, I learnt how women's right developed over a century, but from a different angle. I chose this newspaper (the Telegraph) as it is a competitor of the Independent, and I was intrigued to see if there would be different views, angles, or information expressed. The article involves a timeline which I found extremely valuable. Certain female figures were also raised in the article, which I may look into.

I would consider the Telegraph a reliable source, however they may have bias. The Telegraph is considered a "newspaper of record" and is described as "one of the world's great titles". (according to the BBC ).

(In the post above, I have noted my findings for further use, all information is from the link at the top of the page.)