Political activism between 'dinner and tea':Labour women and the problem of participation

The women of interwar Labour were pioneers in party politics. Whilst many belonged to affiliated organisations such as the Women's Labour League in the past, those who joined from 1918 could play a full role in the party ranks. Like other party members, Labour women had incentives to participate. They sought to influence policy, to achieve shared goals and to enjoy the social aspects of politics. However, when their experience is considered, it is often their failure to achieve
shared aims which are emphasized. Women are said to have chosen the party of their class and, in doing so, to have forfeited the best interests of their sex. The Labour Party, dominated by trade union opinion, has been seen as a vehicle
to contain women rather than offer opportunity. However, such interpretations overlook the agency of women, the choice they made to participate and to continue participating. Women not only formed part of Labour, but theirs represented
one of the most active sections of the party. They may not have been offered enough room by the party leadership initially, but the significant contributions they made within the space available to them should not be overlooked. This study,
focussing on the experience of Labour women through the archives of records from their local sections, will redress this balance. It will historicise the experience of women in interwar Labour Party politics, restoring their agency and pointing to what it means to be a party member, then and today.