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This equipment was donated by Thompsons solicitors

A celebration of the progress of women in the workforce since the passing of the Representation of the People Act in 1918. This timeline highlights important milestones and achievements in women's employment rights.

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This equipment was donated by Thompsons solicitors

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  1. This equipment was donated by Thompsons solicitors Women at Work: 90 Years Since the Representation of the People Act 1918 Wednesday 3rd December 2008

  2. Women at Work: A Cause for Celebration? Prof Aileen McColgan King’s College London Institute of Employment Rights Women at Work Wednesday 3rd December 2008

  3. Time-line of Women at Work 1919: Sex Disqualification Removal Act 1920: Oxford University opens its degrees to women 1921: first woman called to the Bar (declines) 1922 first woman elected to Parliament first woman barrister 1926: Short v Poole Institute of Employment Rights Women at Work Wednesday 3rd December 2008

  4. Time-line of Women at Work • 1929: • women become ‘persons’ (PC) • first woman Cabinet Minister (Labour) • 1932: • first woman police inspector • BBC introduces marriage bar • 1939: • first woman Oxbridge professor (Cambridge: Archaeology) • 1941: • TUC commits to equal pay Institute of Employment Rights Women at Work Wednesday 3rd December 2008

  5. Time-line of Women at Work • 1943: • first woman president of the TUC • 1944: • Butler Act lifts prohibition on married women teachers • 1946: • Royal Commission on Equal Pay recommends equal pay for teachers, local government officers and civil servants • First Woman’s Hour (male presenter) • Removal of the Marriage Bar Institute of Employment Rights Women at Work Wednesday 3rd December 2008

  6. Key Dates HC Deb 15 October 1946 § 75. Mr. JOHN EDWARDS. • —To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any decision has yet been reached on the abolition of the marriage bar in the Civil Service. §The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Dalton) • … The answer is: Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Government have decided that the marriage bar in the Home Civil Service shall henceforth be abolished. I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement on certain points of detail arising out of this decision… §Sir W. Smithers • On a point of Order. Who is the judge of the importance of a Question, Mr. Speaker? I have two Questions on the Order Paper which have not been reached and which, in my opinion, are much more important than the one which has just been answered by the Chancellor. §Mr. Walkden • Can my right hon. Friend say whether the decision will include State servants or active school teachers employed by local authorities? §Mr. Dalton • No, Sir, local authorities are not covered. Institute of Employment Rights Women at Work Wednesday 3rd December 2008

  7. The Statement § In future married women will not be ineligible by reason of their marriage for appointment to established posts in the Home Civil Service, and women who already hold such posts will not be required to resign on marriage. Married women who remain in the Service will be required to comply with the normal conditions and practices of their employment, including regular attendance, the working of overtime when necessary and the acceptance of liability to transfer both within the United Kingdom and outside it. Those who, on account of domestic responsibilities or otherwise are unable to comply with these conditions will not be retained in the Service. § The abolition of the marriage bar will take effect today. It will not give any right of reinstatement to women who have in the past been required to resign from the Civil Service on marriage. Marriage gratuities will be paid, as hitherto, to women who voluntarily resign from established Civil Service posts on marriage... § This statement refers to established posts in the Home Civil Service. The marriage bar will be retained in the Foreign Service. There are a few posts in the Home Service, closely analogous to posts in the Foreign Service, the holding of which involves residence overseas on representational duties. In this very limited field the possibility of retention on marriage will have to be examined on merits in relation to the facts of each individual case. Institute of Employment Rights Women at Work Wednesday 3rd December 2008

  8. Time-line of Women at Work • 1948: • - first British woman Vice Chancellor (London) • - Cambridge University opens full degrees to women • 1949: • - first woman KC • 1953: • - equal pay for women teachers • 1955: • - first woman permanent secretary in the Civil Service • 1961: • - the pill goes on sale in Britain Institute of Employment Rights Women at Work Wednesday 3rd December 2008

  9. Time-line of Women at Work • 1964: • --Married Women’s Property Act • 1967: • --Abortion Act • 1968: • --Ford machinists strike for equal pay • 1970: • --first national meeting of the women’s liberation movement takes place in Ruskin college • --Equal Pay Act 1970 passed Institute of Employment Rights Women at Work Wednesday 3rd December 2008

  10. Time-line of Women at Work • 1972: • --Spare Rib launched • --Jockey Club admits women • 1973: • --first women allowed on the floor of the London Stock Exchange • 1974: • --contraception becomes free to women in the UK • 1975: • --Equal Pay Act 1970 implemented • --Sex Discrimination Act 1975 passed Institute of Employment Rights Women at Work Wednesday 3rd December 2008

  11. Time-line of Women at Work • 1976: • --EOC created • --first British woman firefighter • 1979: • --first British woman prime minister ;-( • 1984: • --Equal Pay Act 1970 amended to allow equal value claims • --First female General Secretary of a major British trade union (SOGAT) Institute of Employment Rights Women at Work Wednesday 3rd December 2008

  12. Time-line of Women at Work • 1986: • --Equalisation of retirement ages/ night work • 1987: • --first Black woman MP • 1988: • --Hayward v Cammell Laird • --first woman in the Court of Appeal • 1990: • --Royal Navy allows women to go to sea • --independent taxation for (married) women Institute of Employment Rights Women at Work Wednesday 3rd December 2008

  13. Time-line of Women at Work • 1991: • --first woman head of M15 • --first black woman QC • 1992: • --first woman DPP • --first woman daytime DJ on Radio 1 • 1994: • --first women priests Institute of Employment Rights Women at Work Wednesday 3rd December 2008

  14. Time-line of Women at Work • 1994: • --men no longer legally entitled to rape their wives • --equal rights for part-time workers (!) • 1995: • --first woman Chief Constable (Lancashire) • 1997: • --adoption by the Labour Party of all-women shortlists • --first woman to head a FTSE 100 company (Pearson) • 1998: • --First woman weekday broadsheet editor (Independent) • --national minimum wage Institute of Employment Rights Women at Work Wednesday 3rd December 2008

  15. 100 years of Progress • women in old age and single mothers still among the most impoverished groups • widespread occupational, workplace and industrial segregation • gender-pay gap for part-time workers unchanged since 1975 • women still under-paid, under-valued • pregnancy discrimination rife Institute of Employment Rights Women at Work Wednesday 3rd December 2008

  16. New Challenges • The (single) Equality Act: • new horizons? • or wasted opportunity? Institute of Employment Rights Women at Work Wednesday 3rd December 2008

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