The Women’s Movement

This section explains the aims of the Women’s Movement. Although the struggle for women’s suffrage was a significant milestone in the fight for gender equality, the achievement of the right to vote for all women over 21 in 1928 did not bring an end to gender discrimination. Women continued to face inequality in many areas of work, education, and social life. This led to the rise of the Women’s Movement, which aimed to address these persistent inequalities and demand greater rights and freedoms for women. The Women’s Movement achieved many notable successes throughout the 20th century, but the battle for true gender equality continues into the 21st century.

The Aims of the Women’s Movement

The 1960s saw a significant surge in demands for women to be treated equally in all aspects of life. The movement focused on key areas where women faced discrimination, such as in the workplace, marriage, and education. It called for legislative changes that would improve women's rights, ensuring equality in pay, access to work, and opportunities for career advancement, as well as reforms in family law.

Key Legislative Acts in the Women’s Movement

Throughout the 20th century, several important acts were passed to address gender inequality. These laws were significant victories for the Women's Movement, but they were also just the beginning of a wider struggle for full gender equality.

The Divorce Reform Act, 1969

Before the Divorce Reform Act of 1969, divorce laws in Britain were highly restrictive for women. Women who wished to leave an unhappy marriage often found themselves legally trapped unless they could prove that their husband had committed a fault, such as adultery. This made it difficult for many women to escape abusive or unhappy relationships.

• The Divorce Reform Act introduced the concept of ‘no-fault’ divorce, meaning that people no longer needed to provide evidence of wrongdoing to end their marriage. The only requirement was that the marriage had irretrievably broken down.
• This law allowed for a less shameful and more straightforward way to end a marriage, as both parties simply had to agree that the relationship was no longer viable.
• Property rights were also addressed by this reform. Under previous laws, a woman’s property automatically became her husband's upon marriage, as women were viewed as the property of their husbands. The new act ensured that property and belongings were shared equally between both partners upon divorce.

The Equal Pay Act, 1970

The issue of unequal pay for women was highlighted dramatically by the Ford car factory strike in Dagenham in 1968. Female machinists at the plant were being paid 15% less than their male counterparts for doing identical work, which led to a strike that halted car production.

• The Equal Pay Act of 1970 made it illegal for employers to pay men and women differently for the same job. This was a landmark law that aimed to address the widespread inequality in wages between the sexes.
• Despite the Act being passed more than 40 years ago, women in Britain still face a significant gender pay gap. In 2023, the Office for National Statistics reported that, on average, women earned 14.3% less than men. This ongoing disparity highlights that while progress has been made, full equality in pay remains an unresolved issue.

The Sex Discrimination Act, 1975

Discrimination against women in the workplace extended beyond unequal pay. Female employees were often denied access to certain roles or benefits, and many jobs were explicitly advertised as being for men only.

• The Sex Discrimination Act of 1975 sought to address these inequalities by making it illegal to discriminate against someone based on their gender. This meant that women could no longer be excluded from certain job roles or denied benefits that were available to male workers.
• The Act also prohibited employers from advertising jobs as being specifically for men, ensuring that women had the same opportunities in the workforce as men.
• This legislation was a significant step towards gender equality in employment, though, as with the Equal Pay Act, the full implementation of gender equality in the workplace remained a work in progress.

Gender Equality in the 21st Century

Despite the significant advances made by the Women’s Movement throughout the 20th century, gender inequality remains a major issue in Britain today. Women have made tremendous strides in many areas, but they continue to face discrimination and underrepresentation in several important sectors.

• Representation in Leadership Roles: Women make up 51% of the population but hold only 35% of seats in the House of Commons, 34% of judicial positions, and just 39% of directorial roles in companies. These statistics demonstrate that women remain underrepresented in positions of power and decision-making.
• Wage Disparities: Women continue to earn less than men in most sectors. As of 2023, working women earn, on average, 15.4% less than their male counterparts. This wage gap is particularly evident in industries dominated by women, such as healthcare and education, where women often perform essential work but are underpaid compared to men in other sectors.
• Prevalence of Sexist Attitudes: Sexism and misogyny remain widespread in British society. Women still face objectification, harassment, and unequal treatment in both their professional and personal lives. These attitudes continue to impact women’s ability to achieve true equality in all spheres of life.
• Workforce Inequality: It is estimated that 75% of minimum-wage jobs in Britain are occupied by women. This highlights the disproportionate number of women working in low-paid, insecure jobs, which perpetuates financial inequality and limits opportunities for career advancement.

Conclusion

The Women’s Movement has achieved significant milestones in the fight for gender equality, particularly in securing legislative changes that addressed issues like divorce, unequal pay, and sex discrimination. However, despite these victories, many challenges remain. Women in the 21st century still face significant barriers to true equality, from wage disparities and underrepresentation in leadership roles to the persistence of sexist attitudes and workplace discrimination. The struggle for gender equality is ongoing, and the Women's Movement continues to play a vital role in advocating for women's rights and freedoms in all aspects of life.