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Men's Attitudes Towards Women

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Men's Attitudes Towards Women

Read the evidence carefully. Attitudes were never the same for every man or woman, and changes in laws did not instantly change everyone’s opinions. Use examples from the timeline to explain what changed and what remained unequal.

Evidence: Britain, 1830s–1970s

In the nineteenth century, many influential men promoted conventional expectations about gender and society. These ideas were not shared by everyone: women campaigned for education, work and political rights, and some men supported them. Before 1882, a married woman in England and Wales generally could not independently control property she had brought into the marriage. The Married Women’s Property Act 1882 changed this. Women still did not have the parliamentary vote. In 1918, some women aged 30 or over gained the vote if they met a property qualification; in 1928, women gained voting rights on the same terms as men from age 21. During the Second World War, many women took on jobs previously done mostly by men, though they were often expected to leave them when servicemen returned. In 1970, the Equal Pay Act became law, aiming to address unequal pay for women and men doing the same work.

Date

Evidence

Before 1882

Married women in England and Wales generally could not independently control property brought into marriage.

1882

The Married Women’s Property Act changed married women’s legal control of property.

1918

Some women aged 30 or over gained the parliamentary vote, subject to a property qualification.

1928

Women gained voting rights on the same terms as men from age 21.

Second World War

Many women worked in jobs previously done mostly by men; some were expected to give up those jobs after the war.

1970

The Equal Pay Act became law, aiming to address unequal pay for women and men doing the same work.

Use the evidence

Answer in complete sentences where appropriate. For opinion questions, support your view with evidence.

1.In the nineteenth century, what did many influential men believe about women’s roles?

Women belonged mainly in the home and were not suited to public life.
Women should all become members of Parliament.
Women should have exactly the same opportunities in every area.
Women should decide who could vote.

2.Use the timeline: what legal change did the Married Women’s Property Act 1882 bring?

3.True or false: in 1918, all women in Britain gained the vote on exactly the same terms as men.

TrueFalse

4.Complete the sentence using the timeline: in 1928, women gained voting rights on the same terms as men from the age of .

5.What does the Second World War evidence suggest about women’s work—and why does it not prove that attitudes had completely changed?

6.Match each event to the change described.

1882
1918
1970

Some women aged 30 or over gained the vote, with a property qualification.
A law changed married women’s control of property.
The Equal Pay Act became law.

7.The evidence describes changes in laws and in women’s work. Give one example of a law changing and one example of a work opportunity changing.

8.A historian says, “Men’s attitudes towards women changed steadily and completely.” Using at least two details from the evidence, explain why this statement is too simple.

9.Why might some men have defended traditional roles for women? Give one possible reason, and explain why it is a possibility rather than a fact about all men.

10.What does the 1970 Equal Pay Act tell us about equality at work? Give one conclusion and one limit to what this evidence proves.