The Society for Promoting the Employment of Women (SPEW) was one of the earliest British women's organisations.
The society was established in 1859 by Jessie Boucherett, Barbara Bodichon, Adelaide Anne Proctor and Lydia Becker to promote the training and employment of women.[1] The Dictionary of Canadian Biography says Maria Rye was also a founding member.[2] In its early years it was affiliated to the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science, though formal connections between them were severed in 1889[dubious – discuss]. The society's journal was the English Woman's Journal[3] published by Emily Faithfull's Victoria Press.
When SPEW was founded, there were few occupations who accepted the middle-class women other than a governess or a lady's companion. SPEW made it acceptable for women to be typists, hairdressers, printers, and bookkeepers.[4]
In 1926 it was renamed the Society for Promoting the Training of Women. It changed its name again in 2014, becoming Futures for Women. It still operates today, as registered charity number 313700 and registered company number 0013103.[5] Its papers up to 1991 are held at Girton College, Cambridge.[3]
References
edit- ^ Gordon, Peter; Doughan, David (2001). "Society for Promoting the Employment of Women". Dictionary of British Women's Organisations, 1825-1960. London & Portland, Or.: Woburn Press. pp. 129–30. ISBN 0-7130-0223-9.
- ^ "Biography – RYE, MARIA SUSAN – Volume XIII (1901-1910) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography".
- ^ a b Janus: Society for Promoting the Training of Women
- ^ Boucherett, Jessie (2014), "Cooking Schools", Hints on Self-Help, Cambridge University Press, p. 142, doi:10.1017/cbo9781107049345.014, ISBN 9781107049345
- ^ "A History of the Society | Future For Women (SPTW)". Retrieved 21 February 2019.
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