Not for Want of Trying

Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own is a foundation stone of 20th century literary feminism, but its relevance to feminist law reform is often overlooked. In this episode, we speak to Dr Madeleine Davies about the contemporary impact of Virginia Woolf’s work and the ongoing power of her succinct plea for a room of one’s own and five hundred a year.   Music credit: Goldfinch: Flight to the North, Axletree, Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

In this episode, we speak to Lady Hale – former President of the UK Supreme Court – about the Guardianship of Infants Act 1925. We discuss how the issue of equal guardianship over children was of substantial importance to feminist campaigners of the 1920s, and why we should still be talking about this today.   Music credit: Goldfinch: Flight to the North, Axletree, Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

In the interwar period and beyond, many women were fired from their jobs as teachers, civil servants, and clerical and post office workers, simply because they were married. In this episode, we speak to Dr Harriet Samuels about the marriage bar, and how the history of married women's unemployment is an often overlooked, yet vital part of the story of women's fight for equality.   Music credit: Goldfinch: Flight to the North, Axletree, Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

By 1928, equal franchise had been won. But for feminists of the day, this was only the beginning. In this episode, Professor Sharon Thompson discusses why the women's movement in the 1920s and 30s laid the foundations for later feminist fights, and why so much of this activity has been overlooked.   Music credit: Goldfinch: Flight to the North, Axletree, Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

In 1929, both India and England and Wales enacted provisions seeking to protect young girls from underage marriage. How was it that both jurisdictions came to be talking about the age of consent at this time? In this episode, we talk to Dr Laura Lammasniemi and Dr Kanika Sharma about these important interwar reforms, and the role of British and Indian feminists in bringing them about.   Music credit: Goldfinch: Flight to the North, Axletree, Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Until the 1930s, when a married woman committed a civil wrong or tort, she would not be liable in the eyes of the law. Instead, her husband would be sued for her wrongdoing. In this episode, we speak to Professor Joanne Conaghan about the role of tort law in regulating relationships between husbands and wives, and its ability to promote economic and political equality.   Music credit: Goldfinch: Flight to the North, Axletree, Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Before women could formally practise as lawyers, let alone sit as magistrates or judges, two women were appointed as judges in the Industrial Court. In this episode, Professor Erika Rackley discusses how this happened, as well as women’s representation on our courts and what - if anything - this has to do with Hans Christian Andersen’s 'Little Mermaid'.   Music credit: Goldfinch: Flight to the North, Axletree, Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

The 1918 General Election was the first time that women could be elected to parliament. But it would be another 10 years until women could vote on the same terms as men. In this episode we speak to Dr Mari Takayanagi, historian and senior archivist at the Parliamentary Archives, about the later years of the suffrage campaigns and the first women MPs.    Music credit: Goldfinch: Flight to the North, Axletree, Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

In 1920, women were finally able to sit alongside men in the jury box. But why had it taken so long for women to sit as members of a jury? And why is this such an important milestone in women’s history? In this episode, we speak to Dr Kay Crosby about the first women jurors in the English courts.   Music credit: Goldfinch: Flight to the North, Axletree, Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

The Criminal Law Amendment Act 1922 sought to address the sexual exploitation of children. So how did it end up almost criminalising sexual activity between women? In this episode, we speak to Professor Caroline Derry about the role of criminal law in recognising and silencing lesbianism, and what, if anything, this has to do with Queen Victoria. Music credit: Goldfinch: Flight to the North, Axletree, Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Are women's toilets a feminist issue? In this episode, we speak to Eduardo Reyes, commissioning and features editor at the Law Society Gazette, about the Law Society's installation of women’s lavatories in 1923. We discuss what this tells us about how institutions responded to early women solicitors, and the importance of male allies in feminist campaigning. Music credit: Goldfinch: Flight to the North, Axletree, Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0

Coming soon … Not for Want of Trying A brand new legal history podcast that uncovers key events in women’s legal history during the Interwar years. Join Erika Rackley and Sharon Thompson as they talk to leading experts about key legal landmarks for women and why they still matter today.   Music credit: Goldfinch: Flight to the North, Axletree, Free Music Archive, CC BY 4.0