The changing role of women
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe the changing role of women over time.
Key learning points
- Women in British society have often existed within patriarchal structures.
- There was significant continuity in the role of women between the medieval and early modern period.
- The Industrial Revolution had a significant impact on the role of women including on the work they did.
- Women winning the right to vote in 1918 had a dramatic impact on the role of women in society.
- The availability of the contraceptive pill from 1961 had a significant impact on the role of women in society.
Keywords
Industrial Revolution - the Industrial Revolution was a period of great change during which improvements in technology changed how people lived and worked
Suffrage - suffrage is the right to vote
Patriarchal - patriarchal relates to a society that is controlled by men
Feminist - a person who believes in social, economic and political equality between men and women is a feminist
Contraception - a way to prevent pregnancy is known as contraception
Common misconception
Women's suffrage led to a rapid increase in the number of female MPs in Parliament.
By 1931, there were only 15 female MPs in Parliament; however, women's suffrage meant that MPs were more likely to support new laws that had a positive impact on the lives of women.
Teacher tip
Help pupils to understand the different roles and experiences of women by exploring the lives of individuals e.g., the life of Margery Kempe in the medieval period as an example of a woman with power and influence.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keyword with the correct definition.
when someone is treated unfairly because of certain characteristics
a person who believes in equality between men and women
the state of being equal e.g., in rights, status, opportunities
a form of protest that involves refusing to work
Q2.Which of the following phrases best describes the state of the British economy in the 1950s?
Q3.In what year was the Equal Pay Act introduced?
Q4.What became available to British women in 1961 which allowed them more control over when or if they had children?
Q5.Approximately how many British women were taking the contraceptive pill by 1968?
Q6.What was the name of the law that legalised abortion in 1967?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which keyword describes a period of great change between c. 1750 and 1900 during which improvements in technology changed how people lived and worked?
Q2.Which keyword describes something relating to a society that is controlled by men?
Q3.Complete the sentence: The availability of the contraceptive pill from had a significant impact on the role of women in society.
Q4.Even though there were only 15 female MPs by 1931, why was this still a positive for women's rights?
Q5.Which of the following show significant continuity in the role of women between the medieval and early modern period?
Q6.Which of the following show significant change in the role of women between the Industrial Revolution and the 20th century?
To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: The changing role of women, 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, 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 Thematic study: how has the role of women in British society changed? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.