These 60 women all speak in this book. Six other women were interviewed once, but left the sample (through miscarriage, moves, etc). The details given refer to the women when they were first interviewed. Many changed their jobs and/or their housing situations during the project, and some who were single later got married.

VERA ABBATT, 28, canteen worker, married 8 months. Lives in 2 furnished rooms.

CATHERINE ANDREWS, 25, receptionist, married 2 years. Lives in own flat.

TAMSIN ATTWOOD, 20, kiosk attendant, cohabiting 6 months. Lives in 1 furnished room.

NICOLA BELL, 24, contract supervisor, married 4 years. Lives in own house.

ANNE BLOOMFIELD, 23, barmaid, cohabiting 8 months. Lives in furnished flat.

GRACE BOWER, 24, switchboard operator, married 7 months, Lives with her family (parents, younger brother and sister) in their own house.

NINA BRADY, 28, shop assistant, married 8 months. Lives in 2 furnished rooms.

JOSÉ BRYCE, 29, manicurist, married 4 years. Lives in unfurnished flat.

EMMA BUCKINGHAM, 23, audiometrician, married 1 year. Lives in own house.

NANCY CARTER, 26, clerk, married 3 years. Lives in own house.

FELICITY CHAMBERS, 20, receptionist, married 2 years. Lives in unfurnished flat.

JEAN CLARK, 24, conference organiser, married 1 year. Lives in own flat.

MICHELLE CRAIG, 18, florist's assistant, married 3 weeks. Lives in 1 furnished room.

CLARE DAWSON, 29, laboratory assistant, married 6 years. Lives in own house.

PAULINE DIGGORY, 25, market researcher, married 2 years. Lives in own flat.

KAY EDWARDS, 24, cashier, married 2 years. Lives in own flat.

ELIZABETH FARRELL, 28, publisher's assistant, married 5 years. Lives in furnished flat.

POLLY FIELD, 27, telecommunications supervisor, married 6 years. Lives in unfurnished flat.

SOPHY FISHER, 29, TV producer, married 2 years. Lives in own house.

HELEN FOWLER, 22, nursing auxiliary, cohabiting 2 years. Lives in unfurnished flat.

ELLEN GEORGE, 29, health visitor, married 2 years. Lives in own flat.

MANDY GREEN, 30, hairdresser, married 3 years. Lives in own house.

GILLIAN HARTLEY, 26, illustrator, married 3 years. Lives in own flat.

JUNE HATCHARD, 29, teacher, married 3 years. Lives in 3 unfurnished rooms.

BARBARA HOOD, 28, bookseller, married 3 years. Lives in parents-in-law's house.

JO INGRAM, 26, further education teacher, cohabiting 7 years. Lives in furnished flat.