The Women’s Labour Movement in Great Britain in the Interwar Period

Th e article focuses on the development of the women’s Labour organization in Great Britain from 1918 to 1939. Aft er the First World War, British social democrats engaged in active agitation and propaganda eff orts, which enabled them to transform and strengthen the party organization signifi cantly in a relatively short period. A key aspect of these reforms was the development of women’s party sections, building on the foundation of the previously existing Women’s Labour League. Th e article highlights the contributions of the activists who were instrumental in the movement’s early days, including M. Phillips, M. Sutherland, S. Lawrence, D. Johnson, M. Bondfi eld, E. Wilkinson. It also examines the propaganda techniques and methods used by the party to attract new supporters. Th e author discusses the preparation of female speakers, the organization of special classes and summer schools for them, and the staging of mass events aimed at popularizing the Labour Party among the public. Special attention is given to women’s party weeks and months. Th e article delves into the territorial organization of women’s sections, eff orts to improve their vertical management, and the creation of women’s advisory councils, central committees in cities, and federations in counties. Th e author notes that the most notable successes in women’s party building were achieved in the post-war 1920s. However, the growth of women’s sections and membership slowed in the 1930s. A signifi cant focus is on the entry of the fi rst Labour woman, M. Bondfi eld, into R. MacDonald’s government in 1929, where she served as Minister of Labour. Th e article assesses M. Bondfi eld’s legislative activity as head of the ministry and highlights the circumstances that hindered her from implementing signifi cant reforms in unemployment insurance. Additionally, the article analyzes the problems that caused the most notable tensions between the party and trade union leadership and women’s sections, particularly regarding family allowance allocations and the popularization of measures for birth control.