Women, Clubs and Associations in Britain

A club is a weapon used by savages to keep white women at a distance. "George Augustus Sala, a founder member of the Savage Club
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Of the many and varied groups of people excluded from clubs and associations, the most commonly discriminated against is women. They have been excluded not only from West End clubs, including military clubs, but from working men's clubs and from sporting clubs. In retaliation, many women in Britain have not only set up their own clubs and associations, often though not always along the lines of male clubs, but have striven to break down resistance to their joining men's clubs on an equal footing.
"Women, Clubs and Associations in Britain i"s a very readable survey not only of the historical background of women's clubs, drawing on a wide range of published and unpublished sources, but of associations like the Women's Institutes and Townswomen's Guilds. It 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. The authors also look at clubs and associations for girls such as the Guides and the YWCA. It includes women organizing for voluntary service outside the State and their mixed relationships with men's clubs, for example, Rotary. And of course, there is the vexed and volatile matter of women's, men's and mixed sports clubs.

Autorentext

David Doughan MBE was Reference Librarian at The Fawcett Library (now The Women's Library) from 1977 to 2000 after a career in teaching and broadcasting; he continues to be closely involved with the Library. He has been a prominent member of the Women's History Network and a conspicuous contributor to women's studies and women's history, with special reference to suffrage history and periodical bibliography. Previous publications include Lobbying for Liberation (1980), Feminist Periodicals 1855-1984 (1987) with Denise Sanchez, and the Dictionary of British Women's Organisations (2001) with Peter Gordon., Peter Gordon is Emeritus Professor at the Institute of Education, University of London. He has had wide experience of teaching history and was a member of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Schools for a number of years. He has written and researched on many aspects of nineteenth- and twentieth-century political, educational and social history and social policy, and is a Fellow of both the Society of Antiquaries and of the Royal Historical Society. Recent publications include the Dictionary of British Women's Organisations (2001) with David Doughan, and Politics and Society: The Journals of Lady Knightley of Fawsley, 1885-1913 (2004).

Zusammenfassung
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.

Inhalt

Introduction, David Doughan, Peter Gordon; Chapter 1 Early days, David Doughan, Peter Gordon; Chapter 2 Men and their clubs, David Doughan, Peter Gordon; Chapter 3 Forces' clubs, David Doughan, Peter Gordon; Chapter 4 Women's clubs, David Doughan, Peter Gordon; Chapter 5 Sporting clubs, David Doughan, Peter Gordon; Chapter 6 Clubs for girls, David Doughan, Peter Gordon; Chapter 7 Guilds and institutes, David Doughan, Peter Gordon; Chapter 8 'Service' clubs, David Doughan, Peter Gordon; Chapter 9 And what now?, David Doughan, Peter Gordon;