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In preparation for our book, I've been reading some truly crackers historical opinions on feminism. I don't see why I should suffer alone so I'm going to share them with Twitter.
Also, it's important to note how little has really changed for women since then...
Also, it's important to note how little has really changed for women since then...
Auberon Waugh wrote on feminism in Private Eye, 1979;
“..English women are becoming more masculine, their wrists and waists are thickening, their breasts are getting smaller, their voices harsher, their opinions sillier, their behaviour more aggressive and unstable”
“..English women are becoming more masculine, their wrists and waists are thickening, their breasts are getting smaller, their voices harsher, their opinions sillier, their behaviour more aggressive and unstable”
In 1979, a man called David Stayt founded the Campaign for Feminine Women, and said that feminism was, "a perversion, a dangerous cancer.."
He was most upset that women were abandoning their responsibilities in the home to go to work and dress as men.
<shakes head, sadly>
He was most upset that women were abandoning their responsibilities in the home to go to work and dress as men.
<shakes head, sadly>
Mr Stayt believed that, "the ideal women is one who naturally wants to submit, obey, and please the male: to bear his children and to create the happy home.”
Weirdly, he blamed the previous Labour government for "perverting the role of men as providers for women."
Weirdly, he blamed the previous Labour government for "perverting the role of men as providers for women."
In the late 70's/early 80's, women in trousers were still considered so outrageous that many men felt that women should avoid them altogether.
In France, women needed permission to “dress like a man” to work or ride bicycles or horses, and this law wasnt overturned until 2013!
In France, women needed permission to “dress like a man” to work or ride bicycles or horses, and this law wasnt overturned until 2013!
In 1978, female teachers in a school in Reading were banned from wearing trousers by their headmaster. As a protest, several women turned up one day in trousers and were marshalled into a classroom away from the innocent eyes of children.
More teachers joined them which prompted the NUT to try and mediate between the women and the Head. The women won, of course, and interestingly for the time, the media were mostly on their side. However, the Daily Express did urge caution in women whose hips measured over 38”
The rise of male homosexuality was blamed on;
“A new breed of sexually strident amazons, wearing ugly, ill-fitting clothes, mens hats and dinner suits” – no wonder men were seeking pleasure with other men when feminism was so determined to turn women into a male likeness.
“A new breed of sexually strident amazons, wearing ugly, ill-fitting clothes, mens hats and dinner suits” – no wonder men were seeking pleasure with other men when feminism was so determined to turn women into a male likeness.
In 1983, a woman who worked in a crematorium was sacked for coming to work in a trouser suit during cold weather. Her boss said that he regarded trousers on women in the same light as, “miniskirts, see through blouses, plunging necklines and slogan t shirts.”
In 2014, the Bar Council did a survey of female barristers and found that there was social pressure to dress in traditionally feminine clothing.
‘When I came to the Bar it was still considered risqué for a woman to wear trousers and that was only in the mid to late 90s’
‘When I came to the Bar it was still considered risqué for a woman to wear trousers and that was only in the mid to late 90s’
When Margaret Thatcher came to power in 1979, she was subject to totally different rules in relation to fashion & appearance than her predecessors were.
Descriptions of her at the time reference her "fine bone structure."
Descriptions of her at the time reference her "fine bone structure."
I don't think anyone has ever commented on Boris Johnson's bone structure, or David Cameron's or John Major's - have they??
The Prime Ministers from 1970 onwards were not subject to any sartorial scrutiny. Edward Heath put on weight during his term as PM; so much so that his suit didn't fit properly. Harold Wilson was scruffy & looked like he’d got dressed in the dark, puffing away on a pipe.
But, as the Sun argued in 1979, “who would want a dowdy female fatty for prime minister? After all, if a person can’t control her weight then she might not be able to control other, more important things."
Trufax
Trufax
Sidenote; I actually should be reading about austerity.
