Women's Views on News |
- Women conscripts in World War factories
- Events 24 June – 30 June
- Sports round-up: 17-23 June
- Christian “gay cure” ministry closes down
| Women conscripts in World War factories Posted: 24 Jun 2013 08:02 AM PDT
‘War Effort’ tells the story of the ‘Shadow Scheme‘ – a government programme in the 1930s and 40s that saw the British motor industry turning over production to building aeroplanes, aero engines, military vehicles and other items for the war effort. As part of the research for the exhibition and surrounding events, Krissy (my colleague in the Learning team) and I have been finding out about women factory workers and their lives during this time. Earlier this year we spent an afternoon at the History Centre at Coventry’s Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, looking through past issues of the Midlands Daily Telegraph, which later became the Coventry Evening Telegraph. The articles penned, and letters sent in, very often by the female workers themselves, are incredibly revealing about what life was like for women who worked in Coventry's wartime factories. Women played a key part in the success of the Shadow Scheme, and indeed in the success of Britain's effort throughout World War II. When we take school groups through the Blitz area of the Museum, we ask them if they know why we've placed female mannequins in our Shadow Factory scene. Inevitably they know that it's because "the men were away fighting" and some have an idea about the conscription of men to the Army, Navy and Air Force. Indeed, in 1938 all men between the ages of 18-41 had to register with the government, and throughout the war were assigned roles in the forces. What many schoolchildren, and adults, don't realise however is that in 1941 conscription was introduced for women too. The second National Service Act obliged all single women between the ages of 20-30 to register for war work. By the end of the war, the age bracket had increased to 20-50, appeals had been made to recruit married women and mothers, and over seven million women were involved in the war effort. Many of those women were sent away from their homes to work in the factories. As a result of the Shadow Scheme, existing factories had been re-tooled for war industry, and additional 'shadow factories' were built to help meet the demand. Thousands of extra workers were needed for the increase in production, and a good proportion of them would be women. Young women who were sent to the factories could expect to receive a letter in the post informing them where they would be billeted. They would then be sent away to live in hostels, or with host families, and fulfil their new role. At a time when it was still typical for most women to live at home until they were married, this was a daunting (if ultimately liberating) experience for many. In Coventry, hostels were set up around the city by the National Service Hostels Corporation. They were utilitarian buildings, meant to be simple and cheap to erect. The women shared basic dorms and were provided with meals which would be eaten in a communal dining room. Recreational activities were sometimes organised, and some hostels had games rooms where the women could relax. As well as the hostels, many Coventry people welcomed workers as lodgers into their homes. An article in the Midlands Daily Telegraph, from November 1941 reports that "no fewer than 16,000 voluntary billets have been found in raid-devastated Coventry". This was in response to the large number of people who flooded to Coventry to support the War Effort after the infamous air raid the previous November. It wasn't just the young, single women who ended up working in the factories. On many occasions young mothers volunteered to work as well. To enable those women who wanted to work, but who had young children at home, the government established a National Childcare Scheme, building nurseries where parents could leave their young while they went to work. Children would be cared for all day, and receive their meals at the cost of one shilling per day. A letter from Mrs J.L. Jones to the Midlands Daily Telegraph from 24 August 1940 stresses how important these nurseries were. ‘The problem of providing nurseries is urgent…Many hundreds of women with children are now working in Coventry's factories; their children need to be properly cared for. ‘Many hundreds more women would rally to the appeal made daily in your advertisement columns for women to undertake national work – if they were sure that their children would be looked after properly by trained people while they were at work.’ Looking after the children was just one of the concerns that some women had when considering work in the factories. Women reported the difficulty they had in getting to the factories and asked for better transport provision, and many spoke of the practical implications working hours had on food shopping – as one Coventry housewife put it in a letter to the Coventry Evening Telegraph "The goods I want to buy are either all snapped up by free women or the shops are closed!" An article from December 1941 explains how some factories were trying to solve the shopping problem: "In many factories women are allowed 'time off' to effect their essential purchases, and almost everything has been tried except the cure which might well be the most radical one – the opening of provision centres catering especially for the needs of women war workers." Another cause of frustration for women workers was that, for the most part, women were not paid equal wages. A letter to the editor, from a forthright Beryl Jones, on the same page as the quoted article above reads: Throughout the war, women campaigned for this situation to be rectified, with some even striking for equal pay. Although reluctant at first, eventually the Unions allowed female membership and helped them negotiate better and more equal pay. To encourage more women into the factories, Coventry companies created a Women's War Work exhibition at the Central Hall, and held a procession through the City Centre which over a thousand women workers took part in. The Coventry Evening Telegraph described it: "Coventry girl war-workers on Saturday afternoon showed their un-enrolled sisters how they 'went to it' for the national effort. "They led a procession through the main streets of the town, dressed in overalls and gowns with 'V' signs embroidered on them, they rode on tanks and armoured military vehicles they had helped to make, and they sat at their machines, mounted on lorries, filing, riveting and drilling aeroplane parts as they went along." Although it is difficult to give an exact number for how many women worked in the Coventry factories during the war, it was certainly a significant amount. In 1939 the number of female employees working in the motor vehicle, cycle and aircraft industries in Coventry was 3,800; by 1941 this had leapt to 13,900. This figure undoubtedly rose as the war continued, and doesn't include the many more working in munitions and other factories. What we do know however, is that without the thousands of women who were 'sent to Coventry', and to numerous other industrial centres, Britain's shadow factories would not have been able to produce the enormous amount of war vehicles, aeroplanes, munitions and other products that were so vitally needed. While they may have faced challenges with transportation, childcare, food shopping and pay, these women none-the-less rose to the occasion, learnt new skills, put in long hours and much hard work to ultimately help Britain win the war. To find out more about the Shadow Factory scheme and women’s roles in the war effort: visit the War Effort exhibition at Coventry Transport Museum, from 12 July 2013 to 5 January 2014; attend the special Women In World War II evening on 12 September or a lunchtime talk on the subject of Coventry Women In Wartime on 9 October. This article is by WVoN co-editor and Coventry Transport Museum’s Learning Development Officer Naomi Wilcox and was originally published on the Coventry Transport Museum blog.  |
| Posted: 24 Jun 2013 04:00 AM PDT
Activism: 29 June: Hollaback! at PRIDE, Dublin Dublin Pride Parade, Dublin from 1pm Join Hollaback! at the Dublin Pride Parade – they’ll be making a banner and marching with Dublin’s LGBTQ community from the Garden of Remembrance to Merrion Square. 30 June: Walk for Women, Oxford The Head of the River, Oxford at 1pm 1000s of women marched across England for the right to vote in 1913, you can honour those first wave sisters by marching from the Head of the River to the Isis pub in Oxford. There will be a rally and speeches. Conferences: 26 June: National Union of Journalists “Turning the Page on Media Sexism”, London NUJ Headquarters, Headland House, 308 Gray’s Inn Road, London, WC1X from 6pm A century ago, Emily Davison and suffragette colleagues were campaigning for equal rights for women. Today, we have Page 3, Lads mags and a media in which women are still not being considered for the top jobs. Women presenters are shown the door when the odd wrinkle starts to show and during the last general election, women politicians hardly got a mention unless they committed a fashion faux pas. Isn’t it about time that the media started to reflect the real lives of women in the 21st century? Are you tired for the continual trivialisation and sexualisation of women in the media? Come and discuss all this with speakers Cath Elliot, Seema Malhotra, Reni Eddo Lodge, Michelle Stanistreet, and Sophie Bennett. The event is free, but seats are limited so please register your intention to attend. 28 June: Sussex Centre for Gender Studies annual event, Brighton Friston Building, University of Sussex, Brighton from 2-5pm Beginning with a lecture by Professor Barbara Einhorn, the event will also include the annual Gender Studies meeting. All are welcome at the event, and you do not have not be affiliated with the University to attend. RSVP. 29 June: Scotland United Against the Bedroom Tax Conference, Edinburgh Meadowbank Sport Centre, 139 London Road, Edinburgh from 10am-2.30pm As part of the Austerity Uncovered Campaign, the STUC are hosting a Conference focussed on the Bedroom Tax. Attendees will have the opportunity to question politicians and take part in workshops. To register for a free ticket, visit the website. Entertainment: 26-29 June: To Freedom’s Cause, London Tristan Bates Theatre, 1A Tower Stree, Covent Garden, London, WC2H The ‘Emily Inspires!’ Centennial programme brings To Freedom’s Cause by Kate Willoughby to London. One hundred years ago this June, suffragette Emily Wilding Davison died for what she believed in by stepping in front of the King’s horse at the Epsom Derby. Her action altered thousands of other lives including that of the King’s jockey, Herbert Jones. Most of us would have walked on by or looked the other way, so going nothing to change the lives of others, but Emily dared to risk it all. How far are you prepared to go for what you believe in? 27 June: Pussy Riot – A Punk Prayer + Q&A with co-director Mike Lerner, London Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London from 8pm On 21 February 2012, following the controversial re-election of Vladimir Putin, Russian feminist punk group Pussy Riot committed a very public act of defiance on the altar of Moscow’s most venerated cathedral. Their 40-second ‘punk prayer’, performed in their now iconic multi-coloured balaclavas, openly challenged Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church, and set in motion one of the greatest ‘show trials’ of recent times. Pussy Riot were immediately arrested on charges of religious hatred and when three members of the group were sentenced to three years in a penal colony the severity of the punishment galvanised international support and protests across the world. With unparalleled access, PUSSY RIOT – A PUNK PRAYER puts a personal face on an act of rebellion, going beyond the media furore and following three women prepared to defend their actions whatever it may cost them. Fundraisers: 28 June: The Wheel of Time Fashion event, Galway The Bridge Mills restaurant, Galway, from 6.30pm The concept behind The Wheel of Time is a relaxed environment for fashionistas to enjoy a top-of-the-line runway show and have the opportunity to place orders and interact with the designers. Admission is by donation, with proceeds to the Galway Rape Crisis Centre (GRCC). There will be a rare opportunity to view and purchase the collections as the Bridge Mills will host The Wheel of Time pop-up show for two weeks, with 20 per cent of all proceeds going to the GRCC. 29 and 30 June: The Vagina Monologues, Chichester Vicars’ Hall, Cathedral Green, Chichester Julia Goodman, Serena Gordon, Nimmy March, Helena Michell and Amanda Waring perform a reading of ‘The Vagina Monologues’, Eve Ensler’s award winning play based on interviews with more than 200 women. With humour and grace, the piece celebrates women’s strength and sexuality. This is a benefit performance in aid of The Helen Bamber Foundation and Rape Crisis UK. 29 June: March for Mothers, London Greenwich Park, London, SE10 from 10am Health Poverty Action has teamed up with Medact for March for Mothers 2013 – a 5km walk around Greenwich Park to improve maternal health for women in the world’s poorest communities. By registering for the event, you can help ensure women across the world receive the healthcare they need to give birth safely to a healthy baby. 800 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, often because women find themselves a long way from the nearest health centre. Workshops: 25 June: Women’s Rights Under Attack, Taunton Unison House, The Crescent, Taunton from 10am-3.15pm Equality South West and fair Play South West are hosting a free event which will focus on women’s rights and the impact of current government policies. We want to examine how women, including activists, practitioners and academics, can respond to the current challenges they face. Booking is essential, as spaces are limited. 27 June: Archiving Contemporary Feminist Activism, Bristol M Shed, Princes Wharf, Wapping Road, Bristol, from 7-9.30pm Feminists and women’s rights activists have often made a strong connection between history and social change. Simply put, when women are written out of the history books, their culture, achievements and lives are seen as less important than men’s. Such a perspective was a motivating force in the creation of the Feminist Archive, and the Women’s (formerly Fawcett) Library in London. Such facts begs the question: how do we archive the present? How do we ensure that online 21st century feminist activism is documented in a secure way? How do we collect records of a movement as it is happening now, what do we remember, and what do we forget? As part of the evening we will create a timeline of 21st century Bristol feminist activism, hear from experienced archivists and conduct live oral histories. If you have participated in feminist activism in Bristol in the 21st century and have fliers or ephemera that you would like to deposit in the Feminist Archive South, please bring them along. 27 June: Stuff Your Sexist Boss, London Feminist Library, 5 Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 from 7pm The Gender Working Groups from North and South London Solidarity Federations have produced a pamphlet about practical methods of resisting sexual harassment in the workplace. Having researched the law, difference organisations’ advice, and talked through their own personal experiences to produce material for tackling sexual harassment at work, they’d like to share, as well as provide a space for women to talk about their experiences and strategies.  |
| Posted: 24 Jun 2013 03:00 AM PDT
Athletics: There were some outstanding performances by Britain's women in the European Team Championships this weekend in Gateshead. The performance of the weekend must be that of 18-year old Jessica Judd, who took a surprise first place in the 800m. Judd, who only finished her A-levels during the week, held off Russian Ekaterina Sharmina to take the race in a time of two minutes 0.82 seconds. Scotland's Eilidh Child ran a personal best of 52.42 seconds to take the 400m hurdles, while Perri Shakes-Drayton won her 400m in 50.50seconds. Sophie Hitchon came third in the hammer, and in the process bettered her British record with a throw of 72.97m. In one of the final events of the weekend, the women's 4x400m team took first place. The team comprised Eilidh Child, Shana Cox and Meghan Beesley, with Christine Ohuruogu on the anchor leg. The women's performances meant the combined men's and women's British and Northern Ireland team finished a creditable third behind Russian and Germany. Canoeing: Fiona Pennie took gold in the women’s K1 category at the European Canoe Slalom Championships in Krakow this week. The competition looked to be in doubt due to flooding, but eventually went ahead in a condensed format. Pennie finished first in qualifying and then went on to better her time in the final, winning by a comfortable 3.5 seconds. Along with Lizzie Neave and Bethan Latham, she then went on to be part of the team that took silver in the Women's K1 Team event. Cycling: Lizzie Armistead took gold in the Women's National Road Race Championships in Glasgow on 23 June. Laura Trott trailed 63 seconds behind to finish with the silver. It was the first time the championships had been held on a city centre course, a 14.2km route starting and finishing at Glasgow Green. Rowing: At the World Rowing Cup at Eton Dorney, Helen Glover and Polly Swann took gold in the women's pair, with New Zealand second and Germany third. Glover was clearly delighted to be back at the course on which she won Olympic gold in 2012. In an interview with the BBC she said, “It’s amazing being back here. Eton Dorney is the place to be for rowing right now.” Britain also took gold in the women's double sculls on 23 June through Victoria Meyer-Laker and Frances Houghton. Tennis: The Wimbledon draw has, on the whole, not been kind to Britain's five women entrants. British number one, Laura Robson, has the toughest task facing 10th seed Maria Kirilenko. Kirilenko got to the quarter-finals last year and will be looking to equal or better that this year, so Robson will need to be at her best to beat her. Heather Watson, British number two, meets up and coming 18-year old American, Madison Keys. Watson is just returning to competition after suffering with glandular fever earlier this year. The other Britons in the first round also face difficult ties, with Johanna Konta playing 16th seed Jelena Jankovic, Elena Baltacha facing the Italian Flavia Pennetta and Anne Keothavong up against the 19-year old Garbiñe Muguraza from Spain. Marathons: And finally, our sports writing colleague, Liz Draper completed her fifth marathon on 23 June. She finished the race in four hours 36 minutes, a new personal best. Well done Liz!  |
| Christian “gay cure” ministry closes down Posted: 24 Jun 2013 01:08 AM PDT
Exodus International last week apologised to lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual communities for four decades of “undue judgment”. They had previously endorsed the widely-denounced gay “reparative” therapy. The group’s president Alan Chambers, pictured, based in Orlando, Florida told the organisation’s annual conference: "I am sorry for the pain and hurt that many of you have experienced. “I am sorry some of you spent years working through the shame and guilt when your attractions didn't change. “I am sorry we promoted sexual orientation change efforts and reparative theories about sexual orientation that stigmatized parents." He went on to say: "More than anything, I am sorry that so many have interpreted this religious rejection by Christians as God's rejection. “I am profoundly sorry that many have walked away from their faith and that some have chosen to end their lives." The organisation says it will launch a separate ministry which aims to be more welcoming. The Huffington Post has a video interview where Chambers explains his new thinking. Gay activist Patrick Strudwick, writing in the New Statesman welcomed the apology and closure, but said there was still suffering and deaths worldwide because of the belief that people can be "cured" of homosexuality. Strudwick said: “In the West conversion therapy may be gasping for breath, but in parts of Africa, the Middle East and South East Asia it is flourishing. “This does not just mean LGBT people leading lives of unerring misery,” he pointed out. “It means gay people die.2 He explained how in 2009, evangelical gay cure advocate Scott Lively went to Uganda and was granted a four-hour reception at its parliament to speak against homosexuality. It led directly to the so-called "Kill the Gays" death penalty bill currently still on the table. Last week, several British MPs signed an Early Day Motion in Parliament calling for a ban on NHS professionals using this therapy. Pink News reported that the motion called on the government to investigate any NHS links with conversion therapists, ensuring that NHS medical professionals cannot inflict this cruel treatment on their patients and to take steps to ban conversion therapy for under-18s. A Christian psychotherapist, Lesley Pilkington, was struck off last December from the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy for providing gay conversion therapy. Also writing in Pink News, MP Diane Johnson said it was time that the therapy was investigated and debated by Parliament. "If doctors, psychotherapists, psychoanalysts and psychiatrists decide to offer conversion therapy or forward their client onto conversion groups externally, all the evidence suggests that they're potentially consigning their patients to a painful spiral of self-abuse, self-doubt and self-criticism, possibly ending in suicide,” she said.  |
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