The changing experience of women at home

Working Class women

The working day

• The women's day started before anyone else in the house. Her day was often 16 hours long setting up at 5.30 in the morning and finishing her chores at 10 at night.
• She would clean the fire out and make the fire every day. A woman would 'blackhead' the fireplace to keep it shiny.
• She would prepare food for her husband and sons to take to work and set breakfast.

Cleaning

• Working class women were obsessed by the cleanlinessof their homes.
• With dirt being brought from the coal mine everyday, it was a battle to keep the house clean.
• Floors and doorsteps were cleaned everyday.

Prepare the bath

• Women had to prepare the bath for when her husband and sons came home from the coal mine at the end of their shift.
• She would carry a tin bath in from the backyard and place it in front of the fire. She would then fill in with hot water from the kettle. Remember there was no hot or cold running water.
• When the men came home they all used the same water then the bath had to be carried back to the yard and the water is tipped out.

Upper class women

High society-This is the term given to the social elite (best) of the early 1900s: The richer and upper class households.

• Women mainly stayed in the house all day and would host parties quite regularly in the evenings. In the evenings there would be much entertainment in the form of dancing, music an banquets.
• An upper class girl was taught to dance and dine until she married, eventually to become a society hostess.
• Girls received little formal education. It was not needed for their future role as a high society wife. They simply learned to play the piano and to dance
• When the woman was engaged she was not allowed to travel alone with her husband as she was expected to remain innocent.
• It was acceptable for husbands and wives to have affairs .
• The fashions of upper class women reflected their wealth and luxury in their life. It was impossible to dress without the help of a ladies maid. Corsets were worn under elaborate dresse.

Government legislation (Laws)

Family Allowance, 1945

• This improved family life as the allowance was foxed at 25p per child so the children could eat.

National Insurance Act, 1946

• This allowed all working people to pay a contribution that was recorded on a stamp or card

The National Health Act, 1946

• This was the creation of the NHS (National Health Service). This improved the health for women and their families.

Employment

Women were able to have fewer children and choose when to have them. They could delay having their first child to establish their career. Maternity leave meant that women could then return to work.

Choice

Women can choose when to have children and are able to limit the number of children they have.

Health

Fewer pregnanies meant that there as less stress on the women's bodies. Fewer children meant less chance of complications during the birth.

Standard of living/Leisure time

Families with fewer children had more spare money and therefore a higher standard of living. Fewer children also meant less demands on a mother's time increased leisure time.