UK History of Feminism

By lcrow

  • Formation of The London Society for Women's Suffrage

    This was the first national group in the UK to campaign for the right for women to vote.

  • The Women's Social and Political Union is founded

    Founded in Manchester by Emmeline Pankhurst and her two daughters. She believed it would take an active organisation of working class women to draw attention to the Suffragette cause.

  • Over 250,000 people gather in Hyde Park in support of Women's Suffrage

    An event organised by the Women's Social and Political Union drew crowds in Hyde Park. Deliberately organised on a Sunday so working class women would be able to attend.

  • Representation of the People

    Women over 30, who owned a household were granted the right to vote. Although this was a step towards equality, it ruled out the working classes

  • Parliamentary Qualification of Women Act is Passed

    Women were then able to stand as an MP in parliament. And later that year, Constance Markiewicz becomes the first woman elected, representing Sinn Fein.

  • The Sex Discrimination Removal Act is amended

    This amendment allowed women into the accountancy and legal professions.

  • Matrimonial Causes Act

    This allowed both men and women to petition for divorce on the terms of adultery. Previously only men were able to do this.

  • Voting rights were aligned for men and women

  • Formation of NHS

    The introduction of the NHS allowed healthcare for everyone, including women and the working class.

  • Life Peerages Act

    Women are entitled to sit in the House of Lords for the first time. Baroness Swanbourough, Lady Reading and Baroness Barbara Wooton were the first.

  • Married Women's Poverty Act

    Entitles women to keep half of any savings she had made from the allowance given by her husband.

  • The Abortion Act

    The act, which was initially sponsored by MP David Steel decriminalised abortion where the mother was in danger of dying. This lead the way to decriminalise abortion in other circumstances too.

  • Ford Strikes and Equal Pay Act

    A strike at the Ford factory in Dagenham almost stopped production at all UK plants. There was was graded as unskilled, despite men working at a similar level receiving skilled pay. As a direct result of these strikes, the Equal Pay Act was put in place to stop inequality between sexes with salaries.

  • Employment Protection Act

    This act made it illegal to fire a women because she is pregnant.

  • Women's Aid and Homelessness

    Women's Aid lobbied the government to acknowledge women and children at risk of violence as homeless and given their right to state help of temporary housing.

  • International Women's Day

    International Women's Day is formalised as a reoccurring annual event by the UN.

  • Margaret Thatcher becomes first women Priminister

  • Women can apply for a loan or credit in their own names

  • Diane Abbot is the first black woman member of Parliament

  • Rape within marriage is made a criminal offence

    After 15 years of campaigning from women's groups, rape within marriage is made a crime.