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1921 - Number of women in the civil service is 102,000. Marie Stopes opens the UK’s first family planning clinic in Holloway, North London. 1923 – Met swears in women police (1923 – 1920)
The first women police officers are sworn in and given limited powers of arrest. Women had served in the police since World War I, but only in support roles. 1924 – Electric dreams
Caroline Haslett co-founds the Electrical Association for Women and is appointed as its first director.
At this time, few houses have electric light or heating, let alone electrical appliances. She believes passionately in freeing women from household drudgery and envisages electricity as a way to help achieve this. 1925 - The Guardianship of Infants Act recognises that both parents have equal rights and responsibilities for their children. 1928- Woman can vote at 21, thanks to the Equal Franchise Act that gives women this right at the same age as men. The next poll, in 1929, becomes known as the ‘flapper’ election. Equal franchise means 15 million women can now vote. ‘It is ten years since the last Franchise Bill was passed through this House, and in the period… we cannot but feel that there has been a tremendous revolution in our lives…and it has been demonstrated fully, to me at any rate, the case for the establishment of an equality of franchise as between the men and women of this country.’ Mr W M Adamson, speaking in the House of Commons in support of the Equal Francise Act (Hansard, Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Bill, 29 March 1928) 1929 – Efforts go unrecognised
Memo relating to the employment of women in the Civil Service, October 1929.
1930 – In good shape
The Women’s League of Health and Beauty is founded by Mary Bagot Stack (1883 - 1934). Introducing exercise regimes for women, who don the trademark uniform of black satin shorts and white shirts, the movement has a massive following. It later changes its name to the Fitness League. Amy Johnson (1903 -1941) becomes the first woman to take off on a solo flight from England to Australia. 1931 – Service rewarded
Engineer Caroline Haslett at the age of only 36, is awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her services to women. The next year she was appointed as the first woman Companion of the Institute of Electrical Engineers (now the Institution of Engineering Technology). The percentage of women employed as domestic servants drops to less than 8%. 1932 - The National Association of Women Civil Servants (1932 – 1959)
Following a major reorganisation of the Civil Service, this new organisation is formed to campaign for financial equality with male civil servants. The Association is closely linked with campaigns for equal pay.
In line with the teaching profession and the Civil Service the BBC introduces a marriage bar, no longer employing married women unless they are considered to be of special importance to the corporation.
Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to embark on a 15-hour solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
An inspector callsLillian Wyles is appointed the first woman Chief Inspector in the police force. One of the first women to join London’s Metropolitan Police in 1919, she moved to the Criminal Investigation Department in 1922. 1935 – Improving prison conditions
Dame Lillian Barker (1874 – 1955) is appointed Assistant Commissioner of Prisons with responsibility for all female inmates. Her work goes on to become the basis for the modern-day humanitarian prison system for female correctional facilities in the UK. Women in business
The British Federation of Business and Professional Women is founded with Lady Astor as its first president. Engineer Caroline Haslett is the Federation's first chair and later its president. 1936 – A monthly problem solved?
The first modern tampon, with an applicator, goes on sale. Invented by Doctor Earle Haas in 1929, he calls the product Tampax. Its patent description is for a ‘catamenial device’, derived from the Greek word for monthly. 1937 – Women police officers are authorised to take fingerprints. 1938 – “It is not so long ago that all responsible and important work in the Civil Service was reserved for men, but of recent years there has been a marked tendency for women to have a growing share. Judging by their performance there is no reason to question the rightness of this tendency or the likelihood of its further development.” The Right Honourable the Earl Baldwin of Bewdley KG, 14 July 1938 1939- The Women’s Land Army is re-formed to help Britain grow more of its own food in preparation for war. A new generation of land girls is created.
World War II (1939–1945)World War II, the greatest conflict in human history, begins after Germany invades Poland. Aerial bombing brings unprecedented civilian casualties in British cities such as London, Coventry, Birmingham and Liverpool. War rages for almost six years on three continents, leaving more than 50 million dead.
1940 - At least 6.5 million women are involved in war work. Women producing component parts for Spitfire aircraft 1940. 1942 – Church of England rule stating that all women must wear hats in church is relaxed. Women in World War II
More than 460,000 women served in Britain’s military.
Women see active service for the first time in World War II, especially in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), where some become Spitfire pilots. As more men die in battle, female conscription is introduced for the first time. 1943 - ‘I joined the revenue at City Gate house, Moorgate. During the Blitz, I became a firewatcher and first aider and patrolled the building with the men. We would go up on the roof to watch for incendiary bombs. It was there I saw the first flying bomb go by emitting trails of fire. We thought it was a stricken German bomber hit by anti-aircraft fire.’ Irene Taylor-Gooby, Inland Revenue (1938–1943). WAAF personnel tracing the movements of flying bombs and allied fighters on an operations room plotting table, 1944 Back to the kitchen
The war brings a huge increase in women working for the Civil Service. But, as war ends, thousands are dismissed to make way for returning solders.
1946 - Ministry of National Insurance
staff rule book.1947 – Ministry of National Insurance staff.
The bar on married women serving in the Civil Service is lifted. Until now women were forced to give up their jobs when they wed.
A ‘disappointed fiancees’ file contains letters from women jilted by husbands-to-be demanding their jobs back. ‘The married woman’s place is in the home, and home-making is a full time job.’
Extract from Civil Service National Whitley Council Committee Report Against the Removal of the Marriage Bar, late 1945/early 1946 1948 - Beginnings of the NHS
The National Health Service is established, giving free Healthcare to Women and Children - previously only available to male workers. The number of women dying in childbirth falls sharply.
Civil servant Nellie Batson holds the British 800 metres and mile titles, but is unable to compete in the London Olympics because women’s races were limited to 200 metres or less.
1951 – 84.8% of women aged 45 – 49 are married.
1952 – Franklin helps discover DNA
Molecular biologist Rossalind Franklin carries out research at Kings College London that becomes the key to the discovery of DNA.
1953 – Women teachers gain right to equal pay.
‘I worked as a typist in the 1950s and can remember the heating being switched off on April 1st and staying off until end of October. On cold days, we typed wearing gloves.’ Civil Servant, 1950s
1955 - Ladies that lunch
Antonella Kerr, Marchioness of Lothian, known as ‘Tony Lothian’, sets up the annual Women of the Year Lunches at the Savoy Hotel. Her inspiration is to give women the opportunity to meet and talk to a wide cross section of working women who
have distinguished themselves in their careers, and hear the views of world famous women on important issues. It is an instant success.First Female Permanent Secretary
Dame Evelyn Sharp makes history by becoming Britain’s first female Permanent Secretary, in the Ministry of Town and Local Government. She had already been the first woman to gain equal pay with men, when she was deputy Secretary, ten years before any other woman in the civil service.
1956 – The National Childbirth Trust is established, with the aim of helping prepare couples for childbirth and parenting.
1958 – Women in the House of Lords Women are entitled to sit in the House of Lords for the first time. Barbara Wooton and Lady Reading are the first to take their seats.
1959 – Caribbean talent
Trinidad-born Claudia Jones helps launch the Notting Hill carnival as an annual Mardi-Gras style showcase for Caribbean talent. These early celebrations are held in halls accompanied by the slogan, ‘A people’s art is the genesis of their freedom’.
Second woman to head a government department.
Mary Smieton becomes the first female Permanent Secretary at the Department for Education. She takes responsibility for 3,000 staff and finds herself in the unusual position of earning more than her Minister, Geoffrey Lloyd. This is because the Treasury hadn’t considered that women would reach such a high position, so she’s paid at the established men’s rate of £7,000 a year.
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Last updated 564 days ago by Daniel Atkinson