Society for Promoting the Employment of Women facts for kids
The Society for Promoting the Employment of Women (SPEW) was one of the first groups in Britain to help women find jobs. It was created to support women in getting training and finding work.
Helping Women Find Jobs
The Society for Promoting the Employment of Women, or SPEW, started in 1859. It was founded by several important women: Jessie Boucherett, Barbara Bodichon, Adelaide Anne Proctor, and Lydia Becker. Some records also say Maria Rye helped start it.
In the early days, SPEW worked closely with another group called the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science. However, they stopped being formally connected in 1889. SPEW also had its own magazine, the English Woman's Journal, which was printed by Emily Faithfull's Victoria Press.
Opening New Doors for Women
When SPEW was founded, it was hard for middle-class women to find jobs. Most could only work as a governess (a private teacher for children) or a lady's companion. SPEW worked to make it acceptable for women to have other types of jobs. Thanks to their efforts, women began working as typists, hairdressers, printers, and bookkeepers. This helped women gain more independence and career choices.
What Happened Next
The society changed its name over the years. In 1926, it became the Society for Promoting the Training of Women. Then, in 2014, it changed its name again to Futures for Women.
This organization is still active today! It works as a registered charity (number 313700) and a registered company (number 0013103). The old records of the society, up to 1991, are kept at Girton College, Cambridge.
