1970
saw the passage of the equal pay act a major step in women's rights .
The legislation was the result of the pressure applied to the Labour
Government by actions such as the strike at Ford's Motor Company over
equal pay- the subject of the film “Made in Dagenham . Job adverts
of the time are a good place to start looking at the obstacles that
females faced in the workplace. In Leek women with families were
encouraged to apply for the “Housewives Shift” , an innovation in
employment practices, at Weston Street Mill. Female typists were
required for Thomas Boltons at Froghall and at Gush and Dent a “keen
young lady” was needed. The evidence that men and women were paid
differently was apparent. In March a report of the Association of
Manufacturers and Dyers published their minimum pay rates for a 40
hour week, for Men the rate was £14 and for women £11. It should be
said that local Trade Unions were not overtly concerned in closing
the gap as they tended to be male dominated
An
unspoken social problem was domestic violence and the 70s saw it for
the first time being debated openly. During March 1970 the local
paper reported two cases in Leek and Cheadle. One of the incidents
was described as a “domestic tiff” The book “ Scream Quietly
or the neighbours would hear” was published in the decade. Erin
Pizzey detailed her experiences of establishing a woman’s refuge in
West London. (Her belief that the problem of violence against women
was widespread is born out of my own experiences in Stoke. As a child
I once see a woman attacked in the street.} As she wrote in the
introduction to her book “ as long as the myth of the Princess and
the frog continues then young women will believe that a good woman
can save any man and the ugly frog will turn into a Prince”.
Language
was an important weapon in objectifying women. Young women attending
a weekend Duke of Edinburgh course were referred to as “Dollies”.
The Dollies in question -28 young women- spent a weekend at Ilam
Youth Hostel taking courses on make up, cake decoration and fashion.
Even in well meaning examples, the words used can be jarring to the
modern ear. The principal of Leek College congratulated Leek woman
Catherine Turner who had been selected to visit the USSR and study
education methods going on to say that “she was part of a
memorable band of housewives who had pioneered day classes for GCE
exams”.
Domesticity
was a quality prized and it was a attribute nurtured across the area
by Women's Institutes- at the height of their popularity- where there
was a perceived need to pass on housewifery skills across the
generations. The WI had branches in most communities. In Rushton they
had a talk on the new decimal coverage starting up the following
February. Greenaway Moor were shown a film of Max Bygraves promoting
Dutch Cheese, Tean a session on cake making. Mothers Union added to
the sense as they pledged to perform their duties “they owe their
husband, their children and their God”. At schools girls were
taught domestic science concentrating on home making reinforcing the
traditional role of women
Leek
Ladies Hockey team were going from strength to strength in the early
spring of 1970. After defeating Newcastle they had become the
undisputed champions of the county. In this victory they had relied
on three goals from Patsy Allen centre forward, The reporter was of
the opinion that they had won because, “they had greater fire
power up front and they commanded the centre of the field with the
authority of an all conquering army”
Ali
Barba's Club in Milton were running regular strip shows on a Tuesday
alternating with a stag comedian. One can presume it was not a very
sophisticated night out and little prospect of the “Second Sex”
or “Female Eunuch” being discussed
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