Women’s history day looks back at 150 years of progress

Bizarre vintage vacuums and inspiring images from the ballot box will feature in an eye-opening talk about the changing lives of women over the past 150 years.

Taking place at Abbey House Museum, the event will explore the huge variety of different roles women have played in fields including politics, education, work and in the home from Victorian Britain up until today.

Through a series of historic images of real women from Leeds taken from the Leeds Museums and Galleries archive, the fascinating study day will look at how opportunities for women have evolved in that time and the many battles that have been fought for women’s rights.

And visitors will also have the opportunity to get an up close look at weird and wonderful labour-saving devices that were once marketed as a surefire way to make women’s lives easier, including antique vacuum cleaners.

Bulky, difficult to handle contraptions like those which will be part of the day were once hailed by advertisers as a revolutionary time-saver, with early models operated by using a steering wheel.

Nicola Pullan, Leeds Museums and Galleries assistant curator of social history, said: “The last 150 years have seen some of the biggest and most expansive changes in the lives of women in virtually every field imaginable.

“From keeping the country moving through the First World War and winning the right to vote to being pioneers in industry, science, space travel and sport, it’s been a truly remarkable journey.

“During this study day we hope to give an insight into just some of the perceptions and challenges women have overcome in that time as well celebrating the progress that has been made.”

The study day takes place at Abbey House on March 28 from 11am until 3pm. Tickets cost £11, which includes lunch, and places are limited, so booking is essential.

For more details on how to book, visit: https://www.leedsinspired.co.uk/events/study-day-womens-lives or contact the museum on 0113 3784079

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact:

Stuart Robinson

Communications Officer

Leeds City Council

Tel: 0113 378 9182 (please note my new number)

Email: stuart.robinson@leeds.gov.uk

www.leeds.gov.uk