Year 9 - History
The changing role of women
Thematic study: how has the role of women in British society changed?
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils consolidate and extend their knowledge of history before 1066 by examining how women's roles in British society have changed from the medieval period to the present.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe the changing role of women over time.
Key Notes
- Women in British society have often existed within patriarchal structures.
- There was significant continuity in the role of women between the medieval and early modern period.
- The Industrial Revolution had a significant impact on the role of women including on the work they did.
- Women winning the right to vote in 1918 had a dramatic impact on the role of women in society.
- The availability of the contraceptive pill from 1961 had a significant impact on the role of women in society.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Industrial Revolution: the Industrial Revolution was a period of great change during which improvements in technology changed how people lived and worked
- suffrage: suffrage is the right to vote
- patriarchal: patriarchal relates to a society that is controlled by men
- feminist: a person who believes in social, economic and political equality between men and women is a feminist
- contraception: a way to prevent pregnancy is known as contraception
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Women's suffrage led to a rapid increase in the number of female MPs in Parliament.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
Women in British society have often existed within patriarchal structures. There was significant continuity in the role of women between the medieval and early modern period.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'Industrial Revolution'
the Industrial Revolution was a period of great change during which improvements in technology changed how people lived and worked.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: Women's suffrage led to a rapid increase in the number of female MPs in Parliament. Correction: By 1931, there were only 15 female MPs in Parliament; however, women's suffrage meant that MPs were more likely to support new laws that had a positive impact on the lives of women.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 9 History guide library.