Impact of WW2 on Female Political Life

• By 1939, there were more women in parliament such as Nancy Astor & Eleanor Rathbone, who addressed female issues
• In 1940, Nancy Astor set up the 'Women Power Committee' to investigate and promote female specific issues
• In 1941, Minister for Labour Ernest Bevin set up the 'Women's Consultative Committee' to manage female participation in the war economy more effectively, this later contributed to the conscription of women for work in March and December 1941
• The intervention of female MP's such as Maud Tate in debates about compensation for wartime injuries led to the introduction of equal compensation for men & women in April 1943 (women had previously received 35p a week less than men)
• Despite interventions in debates over work and pay, female MP's were unable to secure legislation that would have rewarded equal work between the genders with equal pay
• By 1945, male MP's were growing used to considering female issues seriously, undoubtedly influencing a range of social legislation passed by post-war governments
• Nancy Astor was the first women to take her seat in Parliament, and represented the Conservatives until 1945 (but only gained her seat her due to her wealthy husband)
• Ellen Wilkinson was an MP for Jarrow and organised the 1936 Jarrow March, which delivered a petition to parliament to highlight the suffering caused by unemployment in this shipbuilding community