Women of today have got a lot to be thankful for. If you were born in the early 1900s you would be expected to be the heart of the family, stay home, cook, clean, be a great month and wife. Pleasing men and raising children was all women had to look forward too! Thank goodness things have changed. When WWII came, there became a shortage of men in the workforce, which gave women the chance to work real jobs. Some great British women along the way have women in their quest to becoming equal and have the same opportunities as men do.
Every woman in the country should be grateful for Frances Buss. She was a pioneer of female education and helped changed the way girls were taught in school. By the age of 14 she was teaching herself and often left in charge of the school. She became the first head mistress of Camden School for Girls. She campaigned to allow girls to sit examinations and enter universities. She also helped Josephine Butler with her campaigns against the white slave trade. In her life time Francees provided the kind of education that enabled her students to have academic careers. Other schools followed suit and thanks to Buss women of the modern world can go all the way with their education and chose a career rather than just become a mother and housekeeper.
The late Princess Diana is the most iconic faces of the past century. One of the most photographed and talked about women, she brought the Royal family into the 21 century and her legacy lives on through her children William and Harry. During her short life she used her popularity to campaign tirelessly on issues including AIDS, homelessness and landmines. She also supported a number of charities and was one of the first high profile celebrities to touch someone suffering with HIV.
Diana was refreshing compared to previous royals and always spoke honestly about her own personal struggles. Her 'girl power' shone through her troubled times and people could relate to her. Sadly the country went into morning when she was tragically killed in a car accident in Paris on 31st August 1997. What she meant to women and men for that matter can be seen in the media footage of that time.
Queen Elizabeth II has spent pretty much her whole life being dedicated to her role of Queen. She really is an inspiration and someone British women should be very proud of. She first came to the throne on June 2, 1953 after news that her father King George VI had died. She is the first British monarch to have celebrated a Diamond Wedding Anniversary but also the first to see three of her children divorce. Her grandson Prince William or now known as the Duke of Cambridge says his grandmother the Queen is his biggest role model. William is in direct line to the throne and should one day become king.
Jane Austin is the undisputed queen of English literature. She lived a relatively short life from 1775 to 1817 and didn't really get the credit that was due until after her death. During her short life she wrote romantic fiction which all went to become adaptations. Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Emma and Mansfield Park are what she is most famous for. All of her books gave an insight into the lives of the middle and upper classes in early 19th century women. She gave remarkable social observations which can still be seen in society today. 200 years on her observations are still relevant and novels more popular than ever. There are many fan websites and tours which you can go on honouring this remarkable author.
There are many more great British women who have played a special part in the evolution of women in Britain today. Perhaps you reading this are one in the making. I just hope that one day all women from all cultures and religions will eventually cut the ties from men and be free.
Brit Movie Tours offers a great Jane Austen Tour and many other locations tours around London and the UK.
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