Women members and witnesses on British government ad hoc committees of inquiry 1850-1930, with special reference to royal commissions of inquiry
The thesis describes the participation of women as witnesses and members of British government committees of inquiry during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It examines this participation both from the point of view of the women concerned and of the administrations which appointed them. It seeks to establish that such committee work was a form of political activity for individual women; and, by indicating the extent of the organisations and networks which linked these and similar women, demonstrates the existence of a small group of women working within the political elite who collaborated in the shaping of certain aspects of public policy during this time. The thesis also considers the institutional implications of women's membership of committees by examining governmental and civil service attitudes to their appointments. It attempts to uncover how and why women were chosen, and argues that women's committee participation was instrumental in the formation of ideas about women's political work. In committees women became established as an interest group to be represented in the same way and in much the same proportions as other class or professional groupings. They thus achieved representation
Harrison, Elaine
History
Women members and witnesses on British government ad hoc committees of inquiry 1850-1930, with special reference to royal commissions of inquiry. The thesis describes the participation of women as witnesses and members of British government committees of inquiry during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It examines this participation both from the point of view of the women concerned and of the administrations which appointed them. It seeks to establish that such committee work was a form of political activity for individual women; and, by indicating the extent of the organisations and networks which linked these and similar women, demonstrates the existence of a small group of women working within the political elite who collaborated in the shaping of certain aspects of public policy during this time. The thesis also considers the institutional implications of women's membership of committees by examining governmental and civil service attitudes to their appointments. It attempts to uncover how and why women were chosen, and argues that women's committee participation was instrumental in the formation of ideas about women's political work. In committees women became established as an interest group to be represented in the same way and in much the same proportions as other class or professional groupings. They thus achieved representation
women member witness british_government hoc committee inquiry special_reference royal commission inquiry describes participation woman witness member british_government committee inquiry examines participation point_view woman concerned administration appoint them seek_establish committee work form political_activity individual woman indicate extent organisation network link similar woman demonstrate existence small_group woman_work within political_elite collaborate shape certain_aspect public_policy time also_consider institutional implication woman membership committee examine governmental civil_service attitude appointment attempt uncover woman choose argue woman committee participation instrumental formation idea woman political work committee woman become established interest_group represent way much proportion class professional grouping thus achieve representation