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Year 9

The changing role of women

I can describe the changing role of women over time.

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New
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Year 9

The changing role of women

I can describe the changing role of women over time.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Women in British society have often existed within patriarchal structures.
  2. There was significant continuity in the role of women between the medieval and early modern period.
  3. The Industrial Revolution had a significant impact on the role of women including on the work they did.
  4. Women winning the right to vote in 1918 had a dramatic impact on the role of women in society.
  5. 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.

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.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keyword with the correct definition.
Correct Answer:discrimination,when someone is treated unfairly because of certain characteristics

when someone is treated unfairly because of certain characteristics

Correct Answer:feminist,a person who believes in equality between men and women

a person who believes in equality between men and women

Correct Answer:equality,the state of being equal e.g., in rights, status, opportunities

the state of being equal e.g., in rights, status, opportunities

Correct Answer:strike,a form of protest that involves refusing to work

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?
In decline with high unemployment
In decline with low unemployment
Propsering with high unemployment
Correct answer: Prospering with low unemployment
Q3.
In what year was the Equal Pay Act introduced?
1955
1965
Correct answer: 1970
1975
Q4.
What became available to British women in 1961 which allowed them more control over when or if they had children?
Correct Answer: The Pill, The pill, the pill, The contraceptive pill, the Pill
Q5.
Approximately how many British women were taking the contraceptive pill by 1968?
500 000
1 million
Correct answer: 2 million
10 million
Q6.
What was the name of the law that legalised abortion in 1967?
Correct Answer: The Abortion Act, the Abortion Act, Abortion Act

Exit quiz

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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?
Correct Answer: the Industrial Revolution, the industrial revolution, The Industrial Revolution
Q2.
Which keyword describes something relating to a society that is controlled by men?
Correct Answer: patriarchal, Patriarchal, patriarchy, Patriarchy
Q3.
Complete the sentence: The availability of the contraceptive pill from had a significant impact on the role of women in society.
Correct answer: 1961
1918
1975
1750
Q4.
Even though there were only 15 female MPs by 1931, why was this still a positive for women's rights?
Correct answer: Female MPs were more likely to support laws that had positive impacts on women.
Female MPs were less likely to support laws that had positive impacts on women.
Correct answer: A few years before, women had had no representation in Parliament.
A few years before, women had had more representation in Parliament.
Q5.
Which of the following show significant continuity in the role of women between the medieval and early modern period?
Correct answer: Lives centred on the home & dominated by cycle of marriage, birth & childcare.
Correct answer: Excluded from most professions and positions of power
Correct answer: Society was patriarchal
Had easy access to the contraceptive pill
Had equal rights to men in the workplace
Q6.
Which of the following show significant change in the role of women between the Industrial Revolution and the 20th century?
Lives remained centred on the home.
Correct answer: Gained access to the contraceptive pill
Correct answer: Gained suffrage on equal terms as men
Correct answer: Acts were passed to improve equality in the workplace.
Lives remained dictated by a cycle of marriage, birth & childcare.