Additional
Teacher
Resource Pack
The Changing Role of
Women in the UK
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The Changing Role of Women in the UK
For Teachers
Introduction
This programme explores how and why the role of women in society has changed since 1900, and the
impact this has had on society today. In 1900 people talked about the ‘Separate Spheres’ of men and
women – men to work and women to look after the home and bring up children. This was seen as of
equal importance and not regarded as inferior in any way, but was seen as a role suited to the things
women were good at. Of course, some women have always had to work to supplement the family
income, but have invariably had to make do with the lowest paid jobs of all.
The film looks at forces for change – including the Suffragettes, World Wars, changing ideas of the
role of men and women, legislation for equal rights and labour saving devices. It concludes by asking
just how far women have come on the road to equality over the last 100 years or so. You can make up
your own mind!
DVD Timeline
Introduction
Chapter 1: Votes for Women
Chapter 2: The changing role of women
Chapter 3: The impact of WW2
Chapter 4: Equal rights for women
Chapter 5: The glass ceiling
Conclusion
Other Background Information for Teachers
Pupils often assume that women were regarded as ‘second class citizens’ in Edwardian times. It was
only in late Victorian times that laws were passed allowing women to own their own property, or to
get a divorce from a violent or abusive husband. Education for women was much harder to obtain
than for men, and most universities refused to accept women as students or, if forced to accept them,
would not let them take examinations and graduate. The range of occupations open to women was
limited, but expanding, as the number of office and shop jobs grew. Hours were long and wages low.
A small number of women were involved in local politics – you could be elected, for instance, to a
School Board or a Workhouse Board, but could not vote in Parliamentary elections or become an MP.
You were largely expected to defer to your husband and/or father who, the law assumed, knew best. A
small number of middle-class women - ‘the Ladies of Langham Place’ - had battled hard to change
things since the 1850s and were slowly managing to change opinion, if not the law.
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The Changing Role of Women in the UK
Curriculum Links
KS3 / 4 - History
New Secondary Curriculum:
Key Concepts:
Cultural, ethnic and religious diversity
Change and continuity
Key Processes:
Historical enquiry
1d. the development of political power from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century, including
changes in the relationship between rulers and ruled over time, the changing relationship between the
crown and parliament, and the development of democracy
1g. the way in which the lives, beliefs, ideas and attitudes of people in Britain have changed over time
and the factors that have driven these changes
Key Stage 4:
AQA Option B:
The changing Role and Status of Women since 1900
OCR Option B British Depth Study:
How was British society changed, 1906-1918?
Edexcel Option A Unit 3:
The Liberals, votes for women and social reform
Economic & Social change 1918-29
Britain at War
Related DVDs available from Classroom Video
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Britain’s Changing Society in the 20 Century
Crime, Punishment and Policing in England and Wales from 1829
Medical Milestones
Citizenship
Being British
Conflict on a Local Scale
Population Change and Migration in the UK
Women’s Rights – Raising the Glass Ceiling
Please contact customer services on 0117 929 1924
or visit www.classroomvideo.co.uk to see our full range of History and Citizenship titles.
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The Changing Role of Women in the UK
Useful Web Resources
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/women.htm online encyclopedia of people and organisations
who have played a part in changing the status and role of women
http://www.myenglandtravel.com/c02-02.html introduction to the topic from the Government’s
‘Citizenship’ guide
http://modern-british-history.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_changing_role_of_women_in_britain
an overview of changes 1900-1960
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/britain_wwtwo/women_at_war_01.shtml women in WW2
http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_publications_and_archives/parliamentary_archives/archives___
the_suffragettes.cfm women in Parliament
http://www.parliament.uk/about/livingheritage/transformingsociety/womenvote.cfm women and the
vote
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/a-z_of_parliament/t-z/85015.stm women in Parliament
Suggested Activities Before Viewing the Programme
1. Brainstorm what pupils already know about the role of women in Britain, using their prior
knowledge. For example, if you are using .this video at KSt4 then they may have studied some aspects
of the topic at KSt3.
If you are introducing the topic at KSt3, then they will almost certainly have studied some aspects of
women in Medieval, Tudor and/or Victorian times.
2. Ask the class to make a list of any famous women they know today. Why are they famous?
Categorise the areas they are famous in – film? music? politics? sport? How many famous women do
they know in business? In law? In finance? Why do they think this is?
3. Survey the class as to who does the housework at home – men or women? Despite more and
more women working full time surveys repeatedly find that women do far more of the housework
than men!
4. Ask the class who is the major breadwinner at home – father or mother? Be sensitive, you know
your class best, and there is no need for details, just try to discover if men earn more than women.
Again, surveys suggest that men still earn, on average, 25% more than women.
5. Survey the class about their aspirations when they leave school. Some historians argue it is the
limited aspirations of women holding them back from true equality. Girls still tend to want to become
hair dressers, childcare professionals, and so on; whereas men often have loftier aims.
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The Changing Role of Women in the UK
Student Worksheet
While Viewing the Programme
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In 1900 how fair were things if you were a woman?
Who was expected to be the breadwinner in Edwardian Britain?
Why did women want the vote?
What was different about the Suffragettes?
Why did campaigns become more violent?
What part did WW1 play in getting the vote for women?
Why was the period after WW1 difficult for many women?
Why was Marie Stopes so important in the 1920s?
What impact did WW2 have on the lives of women in Britain?
What was the impact of the Beveridge Report for women?
How did the post-war boom and affluence impact on women?
How did the Swinging Sixties affect the lifestyle and options available for women?
Why was the Equal Pay Act 1970 introduced? How effective has that, and subsequent
legislation, been?
How important were changes in education?
What was the significance of Mrs Thatcher?
What does the argument over ordination of women tell us about changes for women?
What does the term ‘Glass Ceiling’ mean? How is it relevant to the role and status of women?
Is ‘Positive Discrimination’ the answer? Especially in politics?
Which areas still exhibit gender inequalities?
Is total equality achievable? Desirable?
Suggested Student Responses
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Not fair – there were real limits on what women could and could not do
Men
So they could improve many aspects of their lives – not just influence elections
Made up of only women
Frustration at lack of government action re women’s rights
Part played by women changed many men – and Government’s attitudes
Men came back and took old jobs, women were expected to go back to the kitchen
Pregnancy advice
Evacuation, work, conscription, bombing, ‘do their bit,’ by 1943 80% of married women
in war work, Land Army,
Family allowance, protection from the ‘Five Wants,’ NHS, Social Security
Labour-saving devices, more hygienic materials, optimism and rising standard of living
Pill, abortion act, reform of divorce laws, jobs, affluence,
Meant to make wages equal
Improves opportunities
First PM, role model for women, leading to increased aspirations
Some accept, some reject, shows conflict rather than agreement. Separate spheres still?
invisible barrier to prevent promotion, informal discrimination. Does it still exist? Does
it limit changes to the roles and status of women?
‘Blair Babes’ over 100 women MPs – has it led to great change and/or progress?
Domestic violence, rape, politics, wages, at home
depends…….
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The Changing Role of Women in the UK
Suggested Activities for After the Programme
1.
Ask students to enumerate all the changes in the status and role of women since 1900.
2. From the list, ask them to rearrange it in order of importance – put the most important change at
the top and the least important change at the bottom. Ask them to justify the order they have chosen
to a neighbour. Can they reach an agreed order between themselves? Feedback to the whole class –
can the class agree an order of importance?
3. Hold a class debate on the changing role of women since 1900.
Split the class into three groups – great change; some change; no change.
Split each group into two sub-groups – for better; for worse.
You now have six groups to prepare their arguments.
Once they have prepared their arguments hold your debate. You can either appoint a referee, or the
teacher can carry out that role.
4. Get pupils to produce a piece of persuasive writing. Pupils need to write an article for ‘Feminism
Now!’ arguing that women are still second-class citizens and that there is a need for a new,
Suffragette-style, campaign in order to achieve equality. What arguments would they use? What
evidence would they use to support their campaign?
5. Get pupils to produce a piece of persuasive writing. Pupils need to write an article for ‘Feminism
Now!’ arguing that women are now fully equal citizens. What arguments would they use? What
evidence would they use to support their campaign?
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