womens changing role in Britain since 1930's

excellent point Ooops

I think the public sexualisation of women and girls is an interesting issue.

As women have become more able to make their own life choices as opposed to having them made for them, there seems to have been an increase in the sexualisation of women.

This is something I struggle to fathom.

If we are more empowered then why are we constantly viewing little starlets in bikinis thrusting their booties about?

Ok, so they choose to do it. That's empowerment in a way.

But why are so many of us using spray tans and hair extensions? Are we really doing it because we are empowered?

I'm not sure if I've explained it very well, but my Granny never so much as wore lipstick and she was utterly beautiful and got herself an extremely handsome and lovely husband. She was never short of friends and happiness, yet she never had a wax or a manicure.

Hi JazzAnnNonMouse,
Good essay choice . I think it is helpful to keep in mind that there certainly have been changes, but generally these changes have been bound by continued assumptions about women. i.e. Women can now expect to work, but you will tend to find that women still take on the primary responsibility for housework and childcare (with a growing number of happy exceptions). Laws on rape have been improved, but convictions are still dismally low and there is a good deal of research showing that the focus is still often on women who were 'asking for it'.

The general line is to say - 'See, look how much things have improved, we are much more equal/totally equal/feminism has gone too far. Feminists tend to highlight the limits of change -and somtimes the way things even go backwards.
I think this book is always pretty helpful as a beginning - if you can get hold of it - as it contains introductory essays on so many subjects: Ina Zweiniger-Bargielowska, Women in Twentieth Century Britain.

Good luck with your researches.

this shows the laws relating to women change, abortion rights, rape crisis centres opening, rape etc Not sure if it will help but it might give you a basis.

(You need to scroll down a considerable amount to find the right date)

the marriage bar applied more to middle class professional jobs though, not working class factory jobs which probably accounted for more women.

Women in British Public Life, 1914-50.

I have an interesting library book at the moment called in British Public Life, 1914-50.

Lots of info in their about female polictians and female social activists etc.

In the 1930s many women were prevented from working due to the implication of the marriage bar. Basically it stated that in many occupations, like teaching, if a woman was to marry, she had to stop working.

Not completely related but the 1941 national service act enlisted women into service (not combat) for the first time. It was a necessity because of labour shortages but still interesting. I also saw something on the news the other day about women machinists striking at ford in the 40's or 50's for equal pay and opportunity. The second world war changed a lot for women in terms of work/careers.

Until World War 2, it was routine for women to quit their jobs, or get told to leave, if they got married. Even teachers.

there is way more choice for women in careers now but I'm not sure what the actual figures were for women working out of the home in the 30s, I think they were higher than we sometimes think, but in a more limited range of jobs.

domestic appliances are interesting because they've made a difference to the actual work but not as much difference in the time spent doing it as you would expect (the classic example is the washing machine, in that it made washing waaaay easier, but now we wash our clothes more often, so the work has expanded to fill the time available).

good luck with the essay!