On an equal footing with men? : women and work at the BBC 1923-1939
This thesis is a study of womenâs employment in the BBC during the 1920s and 1930s and poses the questions â what was the BBC like as a place for women to work, and how equal were they? While there has been wide research into a variety of aspects of the BBC during the inter-war years, to date there has been only cursory consideration of the role of women in the Company/Corporation. The BBC is a particularly significant organisation to study because women worked at all levels, apart from the very top; as charwomen and kitchen hands; as secretaries and clerical staff; as drama producers, advertising representatives and Childrenâs Hour Organisers. Prior to the Second World War, three women, Hilda Matheson, Mary Somerville and Isa Benzie, attained Director status. The BBC viewed itself as a progressive employer, one that supported equal promotion prospects and equal pay. However, understated sexual discrimination was commonplace and in 1932, a Marriage Bar was introduced. The practice of marriage bars was widespread in the inter-war years yet the BBC was never fully committed to its bar and âexceptionalâ married women and women judged to be useful to the Corporation continued to be employed and retained.
Murphy, Catherine
On an equal footing with men? : women and work at the BBC 1923-1939. This thesis is a study of womenâs employment in the BBC during the 1920s and 1930s and poses the questions â what was the BBC like as a place for women to work, and how equal were they? While there has been wide research into a variety of aspects of the BBC during the inter-war years, to date there has been only cursory consideration of the role of women in the Company/Corporation. The BBC is a particularly significant organisation to study because women worked at all levels, apart from the very top; as charwomen and kitchen hands; as secretaries and clerical staff; as drama producers, advertising representatives and Childrenâs Hour Organisers. Prior to the Second World War, three women, Hilda Matheson, Mary Somerville and Isa Benzie, attained Director status. The BBC viewed itself as a progressive employer, one that supported equal promotion prospects and equal pay. However, understated sexual discrimination was commonplace and in 1932, a Marriage Bar was introduced. The practice of marriage bars was widespread in the inter-war years yet the BBC was never fully committed to its bar and âexceptionalâ married women and women judged to be useful to the Corporation continued to be employed and retained.
equal footing men_woman work bbc study woman employment bbc pose question bbc like place woman_work equal wide_variety aspects bbc inter war_year date cursory consideration role_woman company corporation bbc particularly_significant organisation study woman_work level apart top kitchen hand secretary clerical staff drama producer advertise representative children hour prior second_world_war woman mary attain director status bbc view progressive employer support equal promotion prospect equal pay however sexual discrimination commonplace marriage bar introduce practice marriage bar widespread inter_war_year yet bbc never_fully commit bar exceptional married woman woman judge useful corporation continue employ retain