Women, Clubs and Associations in Britain (Woburn education series)

Women have been consistently excluded from all manner of clubs and associations over the years, whether as the direct result of an anti-woman policy or indirectly through prohibitive entry requirements, social constraints, or conflict of interests and tastes. Retaliation from women has taken two directions: some women have set up their own exclusive clubs that reflect their own interests and aims, while others have taken on the men and striven to break down resistance to their joining ‘men’s’ clubs on an equal footing. This book traces the development of the current situation, drawing from a wide range of sources, some of which have never been published before. Looking at the different types of clubs and associations that include women and girls from the WI to the Girl Guides, this book is a rich social history full of fascinating observations and stories, and will be absorbing reading for anyone interested in sociology, women’s history or the transformation of Britain’s social life. "Women, Clubs and Associations in Britain is a survey of the historical background of women's clubs, drawing on a wide range of published and unpublished sources, and additionally, of associations like the women's Institutes and Townswomen's Guilds. The authors also look at clubs and associations for girls, such as the Guides and the YWCA. It includes women organising for voluntary service outside the State and their complex relationships with men's clubs, and with bodies such as Rotary. And of course, there is the vexed and volatile matter of women's, men's and mixed sports clubs. This book is intended in the first instance for the general reader, but it will also be of use to students of social and women's history."--Résumé de l'éditeur "Women, Clubs and Associations in Britain is a survey of the historical background of women's clubs, drawing on a wide range of published and unpublished sources, and additionally, of associations like the women's Institutes and Townswomen's Guilds. The authors also look at clubs and associations for girls, such as the Guides and the YWCA. It includes women organising for voluntary service outside the State and their complex relationships with men's clubs, and with bodies such as Rotary. And of course, there is the vexed and volatile matter of women's, men's and mixed sports clubs. This book is intended in the first instance for the general reader, but it will also be of use to students of social and women's history."--BOOK JACKET. Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Figures......Page 7 Acknowledgements......Page 8 Abbreviations......Page 9 Introduction......Page 12 1 Early days......Page 17 2 Men and their clubs......Page 25 3 Forces’ clubs......Page 43 4 Women’s clubs......Page 54 5 Sporting clubs......Page 74 6 Clubs for girls......Page 96 7 Guilds and institutes......Page 117 8 ‘Service’ clubs......Page 134 9 And what now?......Page 149 Bibliography......Page 156 Index......Page 161 A fascinating social and political history of club and association membership, looking at the direct and indirect exclusion of women from many such clubs and asking why this inequality arose and what outcomes it has had. Early days : debates and discussions Men and their clubs Forces' clubs Women's clubs Sporting clubs Clubs for girls Guilds and institutes Service clubs : Rotary, Inner Wheel, and Sorptimist International And what now?.