Product Description

Combining evidence from primary research, with an emphasis on personal testimony, with work of specialist scholars in social, economic, political and cultural history, this study examines the changing meaning of femininity within the broad historical time periods of the 20th century. Each chronological chapter maps out developments for women at work, in the family, sexuality, education, feminism and other political movements. It does not seek to provide a triumphalist history of "great women", but instead offers an account of women's shifting identity within different social, economic and political contexts, divided by class, sexuality, ethnic background and other factors. Blending analysis with real life testimony, this is a woman-centred history of Britain from the suffragettes to the "Diana effect".

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #126802 in Books
• Published on: 1999-09-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

About the Author
SUE BRULEY is Senior Lecturer in Historical Studies at the University of Portsmouth

Customer Reviews

Forging a collective identity for women through history
Women in Britain Since 1900 is an excellent survey of the major social, cultural, economic and political issues which have affected women during the twentieth century. In 'The Bitter Cry of Outcast Women,' c.1900-1914, Sue Bruley looks at women's limited education opportunities, and their double burden of poorly paid work and family responsibilities, before turning to feminism and socialism, an area where the author is particularly strong throughout the book. 'No Time to Weep' examines the experiences of women in the First World War, with particular emphasis on the role of women workers, feminism and pacifism. The period 1919 to 1939, sees 'A New Femininity,' a period of time when there was an emphasis on, domesticity and 'a new family centred world,' but where employment for married women expanded faster than before. This chapter looks at militant women of the time, as well as examining the areas of work open to women, and women's sexuality. Such themes are continued in Chapter 4, 'We Can Do it!' which looks at the experiences of women in the Second World War.

Possibly the most interesting part of the book - for this reader at least- were the chapters 'From Austerity to Prosperity and the Pill: The Post-War Years, 1945- c.1968,' and 'Second Wave Feminism and Beyond.' Very little historical research has been undertaken which looks at women in the post-war era, perhaps with the notable exception of Jane Lewis, and so the author has done well to amalgamate all these different facets of experience into a unified and coherent analysis. Once again, this section of the book focuses on women and their sexuality, women and the family, women and work and women in feminism, but the author also looks at women and race, and women and law. The pacifist theme is also continued in the post-war years at Greenham Common.

Sue Bruley's, Women in Britain Since 1900 is much more than a nod at one hundred years of women's history. The author does not sit back and marvel at how far we as women have come, but warns that, although 'some degree of gender convergence has occurred, it is important not to over-emphasize these changes as, fundamentally, we still have a gender system in which men are dominant. At present, what passes for equality is often assimilation of femininity into a male norm,' and she cites an example of the current fashion for some women, who elect to have caesareans births at a pre-arranged time in order to fit in with work commitments.

The author claims that one of her aims in writing this book was to map out a 'record of changing femininity,' in order to 'reaffirm women's collective identity by making women conscious of their past.'In a similar spirit, Sue Bruley's writing style is readily accessible to the general reader, and so this is an excellent book for both the casual reader, and the specialist student. The bibliography is also extremely useful for those who would like to read more on the issues that Bruley raises. This is a extremely interesting read and a welcome addition to any library.