Women in 60”s

• Second wave feminism = equality
• Why does second wave feminism come?

  • Result of American liberation groups and populare literature spreading to UK
• Dagenham ford protest led to equal pay act in 1968
• as women could vote legislation changed to appeal to them
• access to education increases at women become 28% of students - critical thinking
• 1965 Married Women’s Property act :

  • women had independant income and could acquire their own money
• Availability of the pill liberated women from unwanted pregnanicies and hindrances
• Working women were often portrayed as selfish
• NHS 1967 Act :

  • Contraception becomes available
• Women’s national committee :

  • Oxford 1970
  • Equal pay
  • Free contraception
  • Equal educational and job opportunities
  • Free 24 hour childcare
• 1970 - Matrimonial property act

  Work of wife wether outside or at hoem must be accounted for in divorce proceedings
• 1970 Equal pay act 


  • Established principle of equal work but took five years to implement
• The ability to divorce easily was liberating to a degree as women were forced to take care of children
• What impacted women’s liberating good :

  • Labour saving devices become popular
  • increasing education rated
  • greater control of family planning
  • easier divorce
• Divorce reform act?

  1969