Life in 1894 - before women’s suffrage

Expectations of Women

In 1894 the British colony of South Australia was 58 years old and still followed British law and customs. Women were expected to always appear happy, dutiful, and moral, setting an example for their families and communities. It was taken for granted that women would become wives and mothers, working for the household and raising a family. Some women were also involved in charitable work or efforts to improve society such as the campaign to abolish slavery.

Lack of political power

However, as industrialisation began to grow and women began to work out of the home in mills and factories, they encountered new challenges. Women were underpaid. Although working out of the home, women were still expected to run a household and raise a family. There was no paid leave, government allowance or pension. Women struggled with poverty.

In British colonies like South Australia, women had fewer legal rights than men. Women’s property, income and children were mainly controlled by their fathers or husbands. There was a strong need for better laws protecting and supporting women and families.

Without the vote, women lacked the political power to effectively address these social issues.

Progress and Resistance

Despite the challenges, there was some progress towards women's rights in the late 1800s. There were changes to the law. The Matrimonial Causes Act of 1858 allowed divorce. The Municipal Corporations Act of 1861 allowed owner/occupiers of property (including women) to vote in local government elections. But ongoing hardships prompted some women to organise for better working conditions. In 1890, Mary Lee, Agnes Milne and Augusta Zadow formed the Working Women's Trade Union. This laid the groundwork for the broader women's suffrage movement that followed.

Sources:

Meredith McLean (1981) 'Votes for Women, 1894-1928', Constitutional Museum Exhibition 20 February to 24 July 1981

Bonnie Ramsay (1994) 'The Enfranchisement of Women in South Australia', essay in 'Cabbages and kings: selected essays in history and Australian studies', Department of History and Australian Studies, Murray Park College of Advanced Education, 1973 to 1996.

The Centre of Democracy -  Working women in the nineteenth century