13 things women couldn’t do 100 years ago

In 1929, women became independent “persons” under the decision of the Confidential Council under Canadian law.

Canadian Emily Murphy, the first judge in the British Empire, and four others led the fight after lawyers challenged her right to sentence by arguing that as a woman she was not qualified for a Senate in the Canadian Senate.

A panel created in their honor in the Chamber reads: “To promote the female race, these five outstanding pioneers took steps that led to the Secret Council recognizing women as eligible for appointment to the Senate of Canada.

8. Sit in the lord’s house

The Life Peerages Act of 1958 gave women the right to sit in a lord’s house for the first time. Baroness Swanbourough, Lady Reading and Baroness Barbara Wooton were the first to take their places.

9. Work on the London Stock Exchange

For the first time in the history of the institution, women were admitted to the London Stock Exchange in 1973 following a campaign by women in the financial sector.

10. Obtain a court order against a violent husband

The Domestic Violence and Legal Proceedings Act 1976 provided legal protection to women who were victims of domestic violence.

11. Single women could not get birth control pills

Birth control pills were introduced in 1961, but were initially only available to married women. In 1967 Contraception was available through the NHS Family Planning Act.

12. Ensure a legal and safe abortion

The 1967 abortion law legalized abortion in the UK for women who were up to 24 weeks pregnant.

“Two doctors had to agree that continuing the pregnancy would harm a woman’s physical or mental health or the child’s physical or mental health when he was born,” notes the British Library.

13. Report rape in marriage

It was not until 1991 that the House of Lords declared marital rape a criminal offense in the United Kingdom.

Lawmakers ruled the 250-year-old law was “anachronistic and offensive,” adding, “A rapist remains a rapist and is subject to criminal law, regardless of his relationship with the victim.”