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Graphic: An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand 1966.

Warning

This information was published in 1966 in An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock. It has not been corrected and will not be updated.

Up-to-date information can be found elsewhere in Te Ara.

WOMEN'S ROLE IN NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY

Contents


WOMEN'S ROLE IN NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY

Women in New Zealand have emerged from a predominantly domestic sphere in much the same way as was done in other countries during the past century. The struggles of the early settlers accelerated this trend at the outset by forcing women to be adaptable, ingenious, and independent, in situations where they could not count on outside help. There were early signs of the desire for emancipation in the women's organisations which sprang up towards the end of the nineteenth century – for example, the Women's Christian Temperance Union and the Suffrage Movement, and in the demand for education at all levels. In a rapidly developing new country, opportunities for employment became more numerous and varied. The two World Wars increased the recognition of women's potential in the employment field, and at the present time they are making a valuable contribution not only to the social, sporting, and cultural activities of New Zealand, but also to its economic development.

Co-creator

Heather Margaret Reid, B.A., Housewife, Dunedin.

Auaina ake: Education