Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-qs9v7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-12T10:07:20.775Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Jam Making, Cuthbert Rabbit and Cakes: Redefining Domestic Labour in the Women's Institute, 1915–60

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 October 2008

Extract

I have discussed elsewhere the role of the British Women's Institute Movement within twentieth-century feminism. This paper will take this argument further by focusing on the way in which the W.I. redefined domestic labour as skilled and thus provided scope for rural women to gain status and validation from their involvement in it. First, however, I want to propose a different perception of the Women's Institute Movement from the more common idea of ‘Jam and Jerusalem’ popular in the 1990s, and describe its activities for those unfamiliar with the Movement.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Morgan, M., ‘Jam, Jerusalem and Feminism’, Journal of Oral History (03 1995)Google Scholar; Morgan, M.The Acceptable Face of Feminism (Lawrence and Wishart, 1996)Google Scholar and in Oldfield, Sybil (ed.), Working Day World (Taylor and Francis, 1994).Google Scholar

2. Robins, Elizabeth, The Convert (London, 1907, reprinted 1980)Google Scholar was a novel based on her play Votes for Women which raised money for and promoted the Women's Suffrage Cause.

3. Stratchey, Ray, The Cause (1928, reprinted London, 1969), p. 391.Google Scholar

4. Courtney, Janet, Countrywomen in Council (London, 1937).Google Scholar

5. ibid. p. 1.

6. ibid. p. 2.

7. Home and Country (October 1930), p. 516.

8. N.F.W.I., Keeping Ourselves Informed (1964, second revision, 1981)Google Scholar.

9. Beddoe, Deddrie, Back to Home and Duty (London, 1989), p. 6.Google Scholar

10. Fernhurst W.I. Institute Minute Books (1928) West Sussex Federation of Women's Institute archives.

11. ibid.

12. Home and Country (January 1922).

13. Home and Country (October 1928), p. 524.

14. Up-a-long-down-a long members memoirs of W.I. outings in History File in N.F.W.I, archive.

15. Randolf, H. Fitz and Hay, M., The Rural Industries of England and Wales (Oxford, 1926). p. V.Google Scholar

16. Home and Country (August 1922), pp. 8–9.

17. Home and Country (April 1922), p. 6.

18. Mrs Cowan (pseudonym), a member for over 50 years in West Sussex, interviewed in 1987.

19. Horn, P., Victorian Country Women (London, 1991).Google Scholar

20. Dalton, P. ‘Housewives, Leisure Crafts Ideology: De-skilling in Consumer Craft’ in Elinor, G. et al. (eds).’ Women and Craft (London, 1987), p. 36.Google Scholar

21. Hutton W.I. History in History File in the N.F.W.I, archive.

22. Cobbett, W., Cottage Economy (1821, reprinted Kensington, 1926).Google Scholar

23. Home and Country (January 1920), p. 3.

24. Home and Country (July 1931), p. 212.

25. Kirkham, P., ‘The Inter-war Handicrafts Revival’ in Attfield, J. and Kirkham, P. (eds) A View from the Interior, Feminism, Women and design (London, 1989), p. 179.Google Scholar

26. ‘Singleton W.I. History’ held by Singleton Women's Institute.

27. Home and Country (January 1941), p. 3.

28. McCall, Cecily, Women's Institutes (London, 1943), p. 31.Google Scholar

29. Home and Country (February 1941), p. 48.

30. Home and Country (June 1944), p. 12.

31. Wright, Patrick, On Living in an Old Country (London, 1985), p. 24.Google Scholar

32. Langton Maltrevers W.I. War History in the History File of the N.F.W.I, archive.

33. Mrs Cowan, op cit.