9.2.2
The Role of Women in the 1930/40s
The Role of Women in the 1930s and 1940s
The Role of Women in the 1930s and 1940s
Emily Tallis is perhaps typical of the middle-aged, upper-middle-class woman of the period. However, Cecilia and Briony aim for new identities in society, with both attempting to find self-realisation through education or a career.
Emily dismissing Cecilia
Emily dismissing Cecilia
- Emily Tallis dismisses Cecilia’s desire for an education as “childish” (p65), thinking that she should instead focus on finding a “husband” and looking forward to “motherhood” (p65).
Working women in the 1930/40s
Working women in the 1930/40s
- At the other end of the social scale, around a third of British women worked outside of their homes, the vast majority in low-paid jobs such as cooking and cleaning.
- Betty and Grace Turner represent these women.
- The onset of World War 2 led to a sharp increase in demand for women in the workplace and, by 1943, almost 90% of single women and 80% of married women were working in factories, in agriculture or serving in the armed forces.
Inequality between men & women
Inequality between men & women
- Women had been given the vote in 1928 but progress towards equality with men was still very limited.
- Women’s wages were well below men’s and various professions such as the civil service and nursing operated a ‘marriage bar’, which meant that women would have to resign from their job if they were to marry, the thinking being that marriage would mean that a woman would have to prioritise raising a family.
Rights to higher education
Rights to higher education
- However, progress was being made.
- Women now had the right to higher education (although Cambridge University, which Cecilia attends, would not award them degrees until 1948) and divorce was beginning to become a little easier for women to obtain.
- However, husbands were still given favourable treatment: women could not claim grounds for divorce citing adultery alone until 1937.
1Introduction to Atonement
1.1Introduction & Background to Atonement
1.2Focus of Your Exam: Crime Texts
2Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part One
2.6Chapter 6
2.10Chapter 10
2.11Chapter 11
2.12Chapter 12
2.13Chapter 13
2.14Chapter 14
3Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Two
3.1Pages 191-201: To the Farmhouse
3.2Pages 202-213: The Night in the Barn
3.3Pages 214-226: The Attack
3.4Pages 226-234: Robbie's Reflections
3.5Pages 234-246: To the Bridge over the Canal
3.6Pages 246-254: Arrival at Dunkirk
3.7Pages 254-265: To the Cellar
4Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Three
4.1Pages 269-277: London, 1940
4.2Pages 277-286: Briony as Writer
4.3Pages 287-315: Victims of War
4.4Pages 315-327: Lola & Paul Marshall’s Wedding
4.5Pages 328-349: The Visit
5Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Four
5.1Epilogue: London, 1999 - Pages 353-371
6Key Character Profiles
6.1Briony Tallis
6.2Robbie Turner
6.3Cecilia Tallis
6.5Paul Marshall
6.6Emily Tallis
7Key Themes
7.1Introduction to Crime Texts
7.2Crimes in Atonement
7.3Criminals in Atonement
7.4Victims in Atonement
7.5Detection in Atonement
7.6Settings in Atonement
7.7Guilt & Punishment in Atonement
8Writing Techniques
9Context
9.1Historical Context
9.2Social Context
9.3Literary Context
10Critical Debates
10.1Marxist Literary Criticism
Jump to other topics
1Introduction to Atonement
1.1Introduction & Background to Atonement
1.2Focus of Your Exam: Crime Texts
2Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part One
2.6Chapter 6
2.10Chapter 10
2.11Chapter 11
2.12Chapter 12
2.13Chapter 13
2.14Chapter 14
3Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Two
3.1Pages 191-201: To the Farmhouse
3.2Pages 202-213: The Night in the Barn
3.3Pages 214-226: The Attack
3.4Pages 226-234: Robbie's Reflections
3.5Pages 234-246: To the Bridge over the Canal
3.6Pages 246-254: Arrival at Dunkirk
3.7Pages 254-265: To the Cellar
4Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Three
4.1Pages 269-277: London, 1940
4.2Pages 277-286: Briony as Writer
4.3Pages 287-315: Victims of War
4.4Pages 315-327: Lola & Paul Marshall’s Wedding
4.5Pages 328-349: The Visit
5Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Four
5.1Epilogue: London, 1999 - Pages 353-371
6Key Character Profiles
6.1Briony Tallis
6.2Robbie Turner
6.3Cecilia Tallis
6.5Paul Marshall
6.6Emily Tallis
7Key Themes
7.1Introduction to Crime Texts
7.2Crimes in Atonement
7.3Criminals in Atonement
7.4Victims in Atonement
7.5Detection in Atonement
7.6Settings in Atonement
7.7Guilt & Punishment in Atonement
8Writing Techniques
9Context
9.1Historical Context
9.2Social Context
9.3Literary Context
10Critical Debates
10.1Marxist Literary Criticism
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