The changing role of women in post-war Britain
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can recall that many women remained in the workforce after WW2, and that women would campaign for equal pay and treatment.
Key learning points
- During WW2, many women entered the workforce or were conscripted into military support services.
- In the late 1940s, labour shortages meant women were encouraged to re-enter the labour market.
- Women were seen as secondary workers and were paid less than men.
- Women campaigned for equal pay throughout the 1950s and 1960s, with teachers granted equal pay in 1955.
- Many married women undertook paid work in the 1960s but still faced significant discrimination.
Keywords
Conscript - to call someone up for compulsory military service
Labour shortage - when there are not enough workers to meet demand
Common misconception
Students might not realise that women as well as men were conscripted during WW2.
In 1940, single women aged 20-30, and widowed women without children, were conscripted into war work.
Teacher tip
Teachers could explain the concept of total war, and how all resources were drawn upon to win the war, so women as well as men were drawn into the conflict in various roles.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which term describes the transfer of an industry or business from private to government ownership?
Q2.Complete the sentence: The Labour government justified their post-WW2 policies with their belief in .
Q3.Which major industries were the last to be nationalised?
Q4.Why did the Conservatives continue to keep key industries nationalised despite their opposition to the policy?
Q5.Which of the following statements were positives of nationalisation?
Q6.What happened to nationalised industries in the 1980s?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which term describes when there are not enough workers to meet demand?
Q2.Complete the sentence: To call someone up for compulsory military service is to them.
Q3.How many women were involved in work for the Land Army during WW2?
Q4.How many married women in Britain had paid jobs of any kind in the 1930s?
Q5.What subjects did schooling for girls continue to focus on immediately post-WW2?
Q6.In what year was the Equal Pay Act passed?
To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: The changing role of women in post-war Britain, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: The changing role of women in post-war Britain, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the Post-war Britain: for whom did the United Kingdom become a 'New Jerusalem'? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.