Ideas, structures and practices of feminism, 1939-64
A dominant theme in histories of twentieth century women's politics is the argument that there have been two 'waves' of high profile activity and unity: the pre 1914 suffrage Movement and the post 1960s Women's Liberation Movement. As a result of this historical temporality, the years 1918-68 have generally been presented as a period of longterm decline in women's politics. Since the late 1980s, research on women's politics in the interwar years has begun to challenge this consensus. However, there has been limited re-evaluation of women's political organisation in the 1940s and 1950s. Existing research presents this period primarily in terms of decline, and offers an interpretation of 1940s and l950s feminism through the unsympathetic lens of a 'second wave' definition of feminism based on opposition to women's traditional domestic roles. Using recently released archival material which has yet to be incorporated into analysis of women's politics in this period, and drawing on shifts in feminist thinking since the 1980s, the thesis offers a re-evaluation of self identified feminism in the period 1939-64. Taking as its primary focus, the Married Women's Association, a feminist organisation concerned with the
Blackford, Catherine
Women's Liberation Movement; Women's politics
Ideas, structures and practices of feminism, 1939-64. A dominant theme in histories of twentieth century women's politics is the argument that there have been two 'waves' of high profile activity and unity: the pre 1914 suffrage Movement and the post 1960s Women's Liberation Movement. As a result of this historical temporality, the years 1918-68 have generally been presented as a period of longterm decline in women's politics. Since the late 1980s, research on women's politics in the interwar years has begun to challenge this consensus. However, there has been limited re-evaluation of women's political organisation in the 1940s and 1950s. Existing research presents this period primarily in terms of decline, and offers an interpretation of 1940s and l950s feminism through the unsympathetic lens of a 'second wave' definition of feminism based on opposition to women's traditional domestic roles. Using recently released archival material which has yet to be incorporated into analysis of women's politics in this period, and drawing on shifts in feminist thinking since the 1980s, the thesis offers a re-evaluation of self identified feminism in the period 1939-64. Taking as its primary focus, the Married Women's Association, a feminist organisation concerned with the
ideas structure practice feminism dominant_theme history woman politics argument high_profile activity unity pre suffrage movement post women_liberation_movement historical temporality generally present period decline woman politics since woman politics interwar_year begin challenge consensus however limited re_evaluation woman political_organisation existing present period primarily term decline offer_interpretation feminism unsympathetic lens second_wave definition feminism base opposition woman traditional domestic role using recently release archival_material yet incorporate analysis woman politics period draw shift feminist think since offer re_evaluation self identify feminism period taking primary_focus married women association feminist organisation concern