The Victoria Printing Press established in 1860 was a great break through for women and gave them an outlet to voice their struggle for equality. Women were able to write article and journals promoting change and fighting for issues such as the Custody Act of 1839 where a women would lose her children to her husband in cases of divorce: if the child was under seven years old she could go to court and obtain assess. In today’s climate not only is it difficult for a husband to automatically get custody but also many are very unhappy about to little access.
In 1870 the property Act allowed women to retain earnings and property acquired during marriage. Before this, everything she owned would become the direct possession of her husband. This act was again revised in 1923 to bring about equality so that all earnings and property she owned when she entered into marriage she could retain. Today married women enjoy the freedom to be landladies and running their own Estate Agencies. In the same year the Education Act meant that teaching became a significant profession but for women the fight for higher education was still being pursued. In 1947 Cambridge University allowed women to obtain degrees although Oxford University granted this in 1920. To this end today we have female judges, lecturers and pilots. John Stuart Mill proposed that women be granted the vote in 1866, `some MPs considered the idea so ludicrous that they laughed` suffrage page 84. In 1918 women finally got the vote Nancy Astor sat in the House of Commons in the first seat won for Conservatives in 1929. This achievement speaks for itself in the form of Mrs M Thatcher.
The new feminism is dealing with just as many issues relevant to our equality now as it was to those women before us. Women make up half the worlds population yet do two thirds of its work whilst receiving only one tenth of its income. Poverty is an issue as many women are head of their household and they are either on benefits or struggling with part time work; therefore the debate over better pay and conditions for this sector is an issue that greatly affects women. For example 45 per cent of workingwomen are part time compared to fewer than 10 per cent of workingmen. The hourly wages of part time men’s remain at only 63 percent of average male wages. Having the opportunity to work part time is an advantage but the conditions sometimes mean that there are no paid holidays or sick pay lack of promotion and job insecurity. It is a cruel cycle because you have children and have been away from employment raising a family your experience is less which keeps you in a less senior position in employment. These conditions some how support the ideas of modern Britain of a women’s role in society by making it almost impossible for them to be anything more than carers.
New feminism also embraces the face of a man. It has been suggested at the feminist hold on society has left males feeling battered by propaganda and rendered them helpless legally. Men complained that the ever changing definition of “male” which included bonding, giver of quality time, mandatory presence at al birthing classes was difficult to conform to. Men are raising fears of being falsely accused of rape and child abuse and how the media are quick to highlight these cases. The truth about domestic violence shows that nearly as many men are being abused however laws were primarily put into action for the protection of women.
Anyone who strives to reduce inequality and promote opportunity must embrace feminism. The subtle message that society gave that the educated, motivated businesswoman was selfish and evil is outdated. Women who succeed in male dominated fields are never mediocre they are presented as extraordinary achievers. How is this equality when only extraordinary achievers can succeed out of their expected roles? A great debt is owed to Mrs Thatcher who made female success and enjoyment of power normal. New feminism is straightforward and upfront and although women still live and work in unequal condition the desire for power is to be celebrated. Feminism is still relevant as more women move into s1pheres that were once dominated by men from government to health care.
