| In the past women were in many ways thought of as | | | | women had to step in and many worked in factories |
| being inferior to men. The typical lifestyle among | | | | during this period. Many enjoyed this sense of freedom |
| families was for women to stay at home while men | | | | and wanted to continue once the war was over. |
| worked, and this was the accepted way of life for | | | | After this women started to want more from their |
| both parties. Although certain generalisations still exist | | | | lives and didn’t want to just accept their standing in |
| much of this has changed, especially over the last | | | | society. This has led to more working women as time |
| hundred years. | | | | has gone on, something which particularly grew in the |
| A decade ago women there thought so inferior that | | | | 1960’s. Their role in society in general has become |
| they were not even allowed to vote. Early in the | | | | more significant across many areas. Much of this |
| twentieth century things began to change though. | | | | came from the rise of feminism with women wanting |
| Many protests took place amongst women seeking to | | | | to be treated equally to men. |
| gain voting rights, and this led to them being given the | | | | Women these days tend to me more independent. |
| vote in 1918. But even then it was only women over | | | | They want more from their lives and want to choose |
| the age of 21 who could vote, while the voting age for | | | | how they live. This could be once reason for the |
| men stood at 18. It took until 1928 for women to be | | | | increasing statistics over the last fifty years. Women |
| given equal voting rights. The rights of women across | | | | no longer just accept things the way they are; if they |
| the board have continued to grow ever since. | | | | are unhappy in their marriage they won’t take it. |
| The old way of life was very rigid in terms of the | | | | Could this be one positive of increasing divorce for |
| gender roles and the majority of people lived according | | | | women? This independence has also meant many |
| to this. The role of a woman was to get married, have | | | | more single women. |
| children and spend her days at home looking after the | | | | These days women are generally treated equally to |
| children and doing the housework. The workplace was | | | | men although some would argue this isn’t always |
| almost exclusively male dominated. | | | | the case. They tend to run their own lives and live how |
| The start of women in the workplace can be | | | | they want, without being pigeon holed by society. They |
| attributed to the Second World War. A large number | | | | have bigger expectation about what they want to gain |
| of men were involved in fighting meaning less were | | | | from life. Some want to be stay-at-home Mums in the |
| available to work in their regular jobs. This meant | | | | traditional sense but they have more of a choice. |