Making diamonds from dust: a working class history of British Labour Party women, 1906-1956

Abstract

This thesis argues that the inclusion of lower-class women in a new political party in Britain, the Women's Labour League launched in 1906, not only promoted action on women's neglected rights, but helped to bring about a more democratic and just society. Women advanced from the margins of the political world, gradually, it is true, but soon exercised agency in training numbers of women to act as a pressure group on the Labour Party and on the government in office. Socialist ideas which had been promulgated since the early nineteenth century, together with feminist notions of asserting the interests of women as a sex encouraged them to observe, understand and attempt to alleviate their subordination in capitalist industrial Britain. Women disproved their assumed passivity and sought to impel social change. Encouraged by competent leaders they pressed for women's franchise to legitimise their status, and to ensure their qualification to plead the cause of others. Their politicisation familiarised them with the functions of the state, and with the inequalities revealed in its administration of the law, education, employment and welfare. As Labour Party members these women were aware that the state of the economy limits reform. Nevertheless, they insisted that the personal was political in child (and mother) care, in education and in employment where the sexual division of labour disadvantaged women workers. With socialist men they acted collectively and cooperatively to counter class antagonism, and used democratic methods to achieve consensus. They also combined with other women's organisations to battle against the twin evils of capitalism - poverty and war. Autonomous leaders taught socialist ideas, directed the Women's Sections of a national political party, and energetically lobbied government to institute social reform. Though they were denied real equality of opportunity with the men's party, their effectiveness as a successful, and vigorous pressure group during these years is beyond question.