Introduction
The following article presents a report by Jordan Baker, as part of her history assignment when she was in year 10 at North Sydney Girls’ High School. For this assignment she interviewed her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother about their lives as girls; and the changes they had experienced; particularly in respect of the freedoms they were allowed.
Her early talent is evident in this report and after graduating in Arts at Sydney University, Jordan's career has encompassed journalism at the Sydney Morning Herald as well as several earlier roles in the media, leading to her present position as News Editor of the Australian Women’s Weekly.
Inspired by her project I have recorded what I know of my mother's experience; and those of her mother and her mother's mother. They were in England but have some striking similarities; as well as contrasts [Read more...]
Her conclusion in year 10, that the world is now more dangerous for children than it once was, is interesting but would no doubt be more nuanced today.
According to the Australian Institute of Criminology, the level of violence in Australia, as measured by the homicide rate, is at the same level, or lower, than it was 80 years ago. The Institute notes that violent crime tends to follow demographic trends; particularly the number of young men aged 18 to 24; and is culturally driven, being much more prevalent in some communities than others. After accounting for historical non-reporting (think of children in care) the incidence of rape and other crimes against children appears to be considerably lower today. Stranger danger has actually decreased.
It may well be due to greater parental vigilance and tighter constraints but society is now significantly less dangerous to children than it was back then. The main increase in physical danger to children is due to cars and other motor vehicles. The greater use of vehicles to drive children about may thus have actually decreased child safety overall.
But, again according to the Institute of Criminology, public opinion surveys continue to show that violent crime is one of the most prominent concerns of Australians. This high level of concern is undoubtedly media driven. 'If it bleeds, it leads'.
Nowadays if there isn’t a good violent crime locally for the media to report, one from interstate or overseas will do; with pictures of course; and let’s repeat the news fifty times; with an on site reporter; as it happens; with updates every few minutes; relayed over every news channel that will take a feed.
Jordan’s great-grandmother simply had no way of knowing that it was more dangerous for children to roam about when she was a child. The news was strictly local. Parents were oblivious unless they heard about a local incident ‘over the back fence’; or at the Baby Health Centre.
Jordan’s great-grandmother also recalls the Catholic school - State school tensions when she was a girl.
When I was a school child I recall that both sides of the Christian divide had rhymes of abuse, handed down from earlier generations; just as recalled by Jordan’s great-grandmother. Christian sectarian rivalry and hatred between Roman Catholics and Protestants was once a defining feature of Australian society.
There was considerable pressure on Catholic parents to send their child to a sectarian school. But not all parents complied. Despite increasing levels of taxpayer funded subsidy, Parochial Catholic schools had very low rates of academic achievement. I went to State schools with many Catholics, easily identifiable when we were separated during scripture periods, whose parents wanted a better quality secular education for their children; or could not afford private school fees. Wendy's parents were among these and she and her sister attended State schools.
Elsewhere on this site I have referred to Ned Kelly; the sectarian polarisation around him; and the hatred he expresses in his famous 'Jerilderie Letter'. Jordan’s distant cousin on her maternal grandfather's side, Les Darcy, became another such rallying point for oppressed Catholics [read more...].
This sectarian enmity was largely dissipated in the cultural revolution that was the 1960’s.
Seen in retrospect the 60's was a technology, wealth and education driven cultural watershed. Following this watershed, the role of religion in lives of people changed dramatically; particularly throughout Europe and Australasia. Traditional societal power balances were upset, sometimes violently.
In the 50's the word 'black', applied to a person, was highly derogatory and/or patronising; equivalent to 'nigger' (as in Little Black Sambo who ran around and around the tree, chased by a tiger, until it turned into butter). The Black Power movement in the 60's changed all that; there was desegregation in the US and Australia; miscegenation, once illegal as in Show Boat (1927) became an acceptable norm Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967).
Women got the right to equal pay; the first step towards full gender equity. The 'pill', the IUD and, failing those, abortion on demand, gave women control over their reproduction. No-fault divorce freed unhappy or discontented couples to form new relationships and extended and enriched family alliances; that demonstrably benefited many children; including those mentioned on this website.
It was impossible in the 1950's that there could be a black president in the US; a black four star general; or a black, female, Secretary of State.
It was impossible that there would be a female, atheist, Australian Prime Minister; living in an open de-facto relationship; and visiting other Heads of State with her partner as consort.
It was impossible that the future king of England and Australia etc, future titular head of the Church of England, would live openly, for years before marriage, with his future wife, a commoner who's great-grandparent was a pit worker; or that the future Danish King would take as his wife an Australian girl he met in a bar in Sydney; or that either would take such a person as their official consort to State occasions before marriage.
It was impossible that there would be a female Christian Priest; or Bishop.
In Western cultures these changes are society wide. Almost no one considers marriage until they have lived with their partner, often more than one; and almost everyone subscribes to gender and ethnic equality.
The concept of 'class' as an hereditary position, or right, is collapsing in favour of merit; defined by personal qualities: education; abilities; potential; and achievement. In-breeding is no longer seen as 'good breeding'.
These changes happened coincidentally with the reformation of religious institutions that previously upheld traditional power relationships like: class, gender and racial distinction; as well as supporting traditional sectarian enmities.
In the Census of 1954 nearly 90% of Australians were Christian of whom only a quarter were Roman Catholic. Almost 50% of Australians reported regular church attendance and only 10% of Australians reported no religion.
But by 1966 those reporting no religion had almost doubled to 18.3% and churches were all reporting a steep decline in attendance.
In response to post-war challenges to traditional religion, particularly in wealthier countries, the Second Vatican Council had made root and branch changes in Roman Catholicism. The council's four sessions from 1962 to 1965: modernized the liturgy; made sweeping changes to the priesthood and nuns and their religious life; enhanced the role of lay Catholics; and above all opened dialogue with other churches and non-Christians.
Today the change has continued. In the 2006 Census Australians reporting no religion had risen to 29.9% and non-Christian religions had also grown, particularly Buddhism. Only 7.5% of the population reported regular church attendance.
While the Pentecostal movement has been growing, the loss of support overall is most strongly felt on the protestant side of the 450 year old Christian Reformation dispute. Hardest hit have been the more traditionally protestant Presbyterian and Methodist (Uniting) churches.
Now Roman Catholics (25.8% of the population) are the largest denomination and make up nearly half of all Christians in Australia.
Jordan's report follows...
JORDAN BAKER - 10 B
HISTORY ASSIGNMENT
MOLLY ELLSON - nee DENSLEY 1907 -
In the early 1900's rules were fairly strict in regard to the behaviour, the responsibilities and the conduct of a child. Children were brought up to the knowledge that they should be seen and not heard, little girls were expected to be models of decorum; less was expected of boys. My great-grandmother's family consisted of her mother, her father, herself and her two older sisters. Being a household of mainly women, her father was quite strict about all aspects of his daughter's lives. He wouldn't let his daughters go in the water or on boats for fear of drowning and as a result none could ever swim. He wouldn't let his daughters have much social contact, except at school. The girls spent much of their time helping their mother in the house or amusing themselves with games like hopscotch. Their household chores included plucking the Sunday chicken and carrying the wood for the fuel stove from the yard to the house.
The girls attended a catholic school from the ages 7 to 14 and studied subjects such as religion, history, arithmetic and singing. Children didn't wear uniform to school, but wore the casual clothes common at the time; long pleated skirts reaching well below the knees, blouses, full apron with sleeves and black lace-up shoes. Boys continued at high school while girls generally didn't, but sought employment such as domestic service, secretarial work, or sewing or knitting in a factory until they were married. As was the case in my great-grandmother's household, the eldest daughter was often obliged by her parents to stay home and help the mother around the house until married. When the girl did work, she always gave her pay to her parents.
Undesirable people weren't common in my great-grandmother’s youth, and the neighbourhood children were generally given free reign as far as friends and playmates were concerned.
However, because communications were far less advanced than they are now, the news was not generally followed, and transport, mostly by horse and buggy, was so much slower, people tended to live in a rather insular environment.
Their whole world revolved around their own particular neighbourhood. The people were thrust closely together, especially the women, and as a consequence many petty arguments and jealousies occurred which resulted in one family "not speaking" to another and other families taking sides. Only in cases like this were children forbidden to talk to other neighbourhood children.
The girls were forbidden to associate with boys, except at occasional dances in their late teens/early twenties. Parents were especially strict in this respect. However, my grandmother remembers sneaking to the cemetery to meet the local boys under the pretence of putting flowers on the graves.
Reading played a major part in the leisure and amusement of people. Before the wireless and television, the only amusements available were the pictures music, occasional Labor League dances for those in their teens and early twenties, and books. Families often read books like the bible together at night, by the light of the kerosene lamp. Reading material, especially for children and teenagers, was heavily censored and girls were expected to read only standard books like "Little Women" and “Anne of Green Gables".
Gossip and adult affairs were kept out of the reach of more immature readers. My great-grandmother especially recalls a newspaper called "The Truth", containing gossip, which was carefully kept out of the reach of her and her sisters. However, when her parents went out, which wasn't often, the girls would go down to the local store and buy it.
The Great War did not really affect my great-grandmother. She was only seven when it began, and her father was too old for the army. However, she does remember a family of boys living down the street whose mother had died when they were young . Her mother often looked after them and 'mothered' them. When war broke out, all four boys enlisted. My great-grandmother can remember meeting the returning soldiers with her mother at Circular Quay at 6.00am, when the ships often came in.
My great-grandmother herself was born in the home and delivered by a midwife, as were her own first two children. Her third was born in hospital. Her mother was present at the birth of the children, and helped her care for them when they were babies. The babies were taken down to the baby health care centre each week, where they were weighted and so forth.
The mother always raised the child. It was she who took care of them, cooked their meals and clothed them. Neither my great-grandmother’s father nor husband contributed in any way, except for the occasional disciplinary action, to the upbringing of the children. His role was as the breadwinner.
JOAN SMITH nee ELLSON - 1926 -
Childhood and adolescence in the depression years were difficult. In a period of so much suffering for everyone, children were very often repressed and played a minor role. Rules were strict; Children were to be seen and not heard, children must not answer back, children must be obedient at all times - the list goes on. Girls had to help their mother in every way possible in the house; washing the dishes, doing the cleaning, washing the clothes in the "copper", (a large round bowl with a wooden stick to stir the clothes) and looking after the younger children. Although boys were never expected to do any work inside the house, not even to make their beds, they were expected to help their father in the garden, and do external chores, which the girls were never allowed to do.
The dress code for girls was very strict; they always wore hats, gloves, suspender belts and stockings, and wore low waisted dresses that reached below their knees.
Girls were not allowed to associate with boys at all; and as they got older were allowed out only with their girlfriends in the afternoons. Like her mother before her, my grandmother avoided this problem by whispering to the boys in church when the priests and nuns were taking communion, and meeting them on Saturday afternoon at 'the pictures'. There weren't any co-educational schools that my grandmother was aware of. She can recall no real reason for this segregation other than the fact that boys were boys and girls were girls and they simply should not mix.
Girls were expected to attend school, then find a job and marry, after which time they would give up their job and spend their lives raising children and looking after their house and husband. My grandmother attended St Charles Catholic Girls' School until she was 15, and then spent another year within the school doing a special 'commerce' course, where she learnt shorthand and typing skills. It was not until she joined the workforce at the age of 17 that she began to associate with the opposite sex; and even then it was only at dances and other such rare social functions. This rule was the same for boys.
Boys were expected to finish high school and begin an apprenticeship. Often, as in the case of my grandmother's brother, he learnt his father's trade.
Parents also discouraged their girls from talking to the undesirable common girls, the girls who talked to boys in public, not in secret. These girls had something of a "reputation" and parents did not want their "innocent" girls to associate with these "risqué" ones.
The Catholic school children were not permitted to associate with the public school children either. The latter didn't have a uniform, and were also considered "common". There was a feud between the Catholic school students and those from the public school. My grandmother can remember yelling to passing students: "Catholics, Catholics ring the bell, while the public march to hell".
Reading was a popular pastime. Girls would read books such as Girls Annuals, Little Women and stories by Enid Blyton. Books by traditional authors, like Jane Austen or the Bronte sisters, were considered appropriate, as were non-fiction books on subjects such as history. Novels were definitely prohibited. Reading for boys was along the same lines as that for girls.
There was not much censorship of reading for children, as objectionable books were simply not available.
Reading was censored for young adults. When my grandmother was 17, her mother used to by a magazine called "True Love Stories", a book of clean but sensational romances, such as: "My Husband fell in Love with my Best Friend". These magazines were prohibited to my grandmother, who would hide them under her bed and read them when her mother went out.
Reading magazines, or indeed any information about the Facts of Life, was withheld from youth. When my grandmother first got her period she thought she was going to die, for her mother hadn't, and never did, explain it to her. When she was pregnant and went to hospital, she had no idea how the baby was going to get out; she thought they would have to cut her open. It was not until the following generation that unwilling mothers began to tell their daughters about such matters.
My grandmother's family was not directly affected by World War II. Her father was too old and her brother too young to enlist, however several young men she knew joined the army, and she was courted by an American Soldier for a short time. The local girls preferred the American soldiers to the local boys because they seemed to have a never ending supply of silk stockings and chocolates. Her family played a part in the war effort; her father was a night warden, who walked around the neighbourhood at night making sure that everyone had their blackouts on their windows, and that no light was showing that could possibly indicate settlement to enemy planes.
Both my grandmothers' children were born at hospital and delivered by a doctor. Twice a week she would take the baby down to the local baby health care centre in a big cane pram.
The baby centres were very fashionable, as they had developed into quite an important social outing. The mothers knew each other, and they would dress their babies up and then spend the morning chatting, gossiping and secretly comparing their children.
My grandmother raised her children herself. She was home all the time, and took care of them. The man of the house, who was seen as the head of the household, the breadwinner, did nothing to contribute to the raising of the children, as his job was to earn money and look after the garden and car.
WENDY BAKER nee SMITH
The 1950’s was a wholesome era. With economic and political stability, life was quite calm and steady. My mother's childhood was the time of the family car, nicely mowed lawns with trimmed edges, Brian Henderson's Bandstand and Vegemite. It also saw the graduation from the wireless to the television. It was a complete contrast to the following decade, the 60's; a decade of discovery, rebellion and instability.
My mother remembers her childhood as a relatively free and easy one. Her mother was home all the time, always there whenever needed (and sometimes when she wasn't), and my mother was allowed to roam about the neighbourhood on her bike at will, and play freely with all the neighbourhood children. The attitude seemed to be that as long as the child was happy, healthy and well behaved he or she could do what they pleased - up to a point. Children were always expected to obey and respect their parents and whatever rules were made. These rules included strict bedtimes, not talking back to their elders, eating their vegies, and doing their chores, such as keeping their bedrooms tidy and drying the dishes.
Although the society was fairly lenient towards children and who they could play with, there were certain notable exceptions. Dirty families were avoided. My mother recalls a family called the "Slys" whose children were reported to be dirty, unwashed, lice-infested, and foul tongued. In a society where cleanliness was next to Godliness, their house was in shambles, the lawns overgrown and their yard a bombsite. The neighbourhood children were forbidden to associate with such "dirty" people.
"Common" people were also to be avoided.
Girls with reputations and such were not looked upon as wholesome. Unlike my great-grandmother's and grandmother's generations, boys were not totally taboo. In high school the sexes were permitted to mingle to a certain extent, although at co-educational high schools they were segregated completely in classrooms and in playgrounds.
Before the days of television, which came in 1956 and, for a long while afterwards, reading played an important role in evening amusement. In my mother's family, they would read, draw or knit while listening to the wireless. Children were encouraged to read. All even slightly unsuitable material was prohibited, so libraries usually offered the same selection as their parents were offered as children; books by Enid Blyton, and Ethel Turner, series such as "Little Women", "Anne of Green Gables", "Pollyanna", "What Katy Did" and "Biggles" and favourites such as "The Railway Children", "Black Beauty", "The Swiss Family Robinson" and "Heidi". As the children got older, they were encouraged to read classics such as "Jane Eyre", "Pride and Prejudice" and other Jane Austen novels, "Wuthering Heights" and books by Charles Dickens.
Unsuitable reading material was kept out of the reach of children and adolescents; however young people would secretly read it whenever possible. My grandmother read the true stories which were banned in her youth and these were now banned in turn from my mother. However my mother would also hide these under her bed and read them whenever she could.
As a child my mother generally wore clothes that suited he lifestyle. These included peddle pushers and blouses, pleated skirts and jumpers, playsuits and shorts. For more formal or dressy occasions, she wore knee length dresses with puffed sleeves and sashes, bobby socks and patent leather shoes.
When she was a teenager, my mother wore the new trendy fashions such as A-line dresses, flares and tapestry suits.
All girls of my mother's generation were required to attend high school. Many however, my mother included, left after third year and trained for occupations such as office work and nursing. Those who finished high school usually became teachers, although the very elite students sometimes followed medicine or law. However the expectations of the parents for the girls hadn't really changed much from their own youth; Girls were still expected to go to secretarial school, get a job, meet a nice boy, get married, leave their job and have children.
My mother's adolescence was a time of radical change in society. TV had taken centre stage, and things like news and current affairs were taking on new dimensions. The Beatles had led the great musical revolution and together with other groups were spreading it far and wide. Radical changes in fashion left the establishment horrified and youth rebellious. During this period people were going back, re-thinking and changing their ideas. Even the Catholic Church underwent major reform. But most of these changes barely touched suburban life and did not really affect my mother until she was old enough to spread her wings and join the workforce, which happened when she was about 18.
My mother and her younger sister were delivered by a doctor at hospital, as were her own two children. My mother attended baby health centres with my brother and I, although due to a much busier lifestyle, which has occurred as a result of rapidly developing technology, it has ceased to be the social event it was when she was a baby.
My mother was raised by her mother. Her father played no part in the raising of his children. It was her mother who was always at home, who cooked, cleaned, washed and ironed for them, and who was always there when they needed her. The man was the breadwinner and my grandmother's day was based around his schedule; he would go to work early, and he would be home by 5.30, via the pub and exactly two beers. Dinner was at 6 on the dot, after which he would lounge around and listen to the wireless or television, or visit his mates and chat about "men's stuff" (guns, cars, boats) over a few beers. He never did any chores or household duties, except carving the roast at Sunday lunch.
The raising of myself and my brother is more of a joint effort. Although my mother does the bulk of the household duties, my father pulls his weight (to a point) and actively participates in the raising of his children.
JORDAN BAKER 1977 -
In one respect, my rules seem much stricter than those of my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. There seems to be much more crime and danger in modern society, and my rules reflect this. I am not allowed to walk by myself or catch the train in the dark, to go into the city alone, or to go out without telling my parents where I am going, who I am going with, what I will do there, how I will get there, and when I will be home. These rules didn't seem as important in the past, in times when crime rates were lower and the streets safer.
Chores now are a lot easier than those in my grandmother’s and great- grandmother's childhood.
We have modern appliances that do the work in half the time and with 10% of the trouble, whereas my great-grandmother didn't even have electricity. My chores only consist of making my bed, tidying my room and unpacking the dishwasher.
Girls in my generation are not prohibited in any way from seeing boys. Rather, it is unusual if a girl doesn't socialise with boys on a regular basis before her late teens. Parents now could not attempt to segregate the sexes or forbid them from seeing each other; it happens too casually and too frequently for this to be practical.
Expectations of women have changed a lot from my great-grandmothers and grandmother's time. Then women would only ever work until they were married. They would seldom have tertiary or even secondary education, which were seen as unnecessary for a woman, as she would only be keeping house and raising the children. Now, it is just as common for a woman to have university qualifications and an influential, powerful job as it is for men. Now, women don’t just work to fill in time between school and marriage. They work because they know they have the talent and potential to be what they want to be, not just a housewife. Women are not only accepted, but expected to do well and achieve.
Libraries offer a far wider range of books now than they have ever done before. The subjects of books have become far more explicit and varied, so should parents wish to do so, there is more need for reading and viewing censorship and restrictions for children than at any time in the past. Until only a few years ago my parents were very strict about my viewing, and many shows were considered unsuitable by them. However my reading has not been restricted so much, partly because from an early age my mother has guided me along the paths that she followed as a girl, so I grew up preferring "Pollyanna" to "Forever". As a teenager, censorship for me is decreasing, rather than increasing as it did for my mother's, grandmother's and great grandmother's adolescence. My parent's view is that as I mature, I am more able to handle more sensitive issues.
There has never been a fashion revolution quite like the one in the 60’s since then. Fashions for young people today are relaxed and easy; jeans, jumpers, shorts and T shirts. Skirts are becoming shorter, and clothes are becoming more daring.
There is a great contrast between the fashions prescribed for my grandmother and great-grandmother and those which I wear. Then it was shocking for dresses to be knee-length, now it is common for them to be halfway up the thighs. (However, we teenagers of the 90's cannot compete with the shortness of the skirts worn by our mothers in the 60' sand 70’s, when skirts barely covered the backside.) Then it was unusual for women to wear trousers, now more women wear them than shorts. However even in the seventies, my mother was forbidden to wear trousers to work. Then women wore hats, gloves and suspender belts; now few women even own any of these articles.
The biggest change that has occurred between my great-grandmother's youth and mine is technology. Then, they didn't even have electricity. Now, they have everything from microwave ovens to mobile 'phones to live satellites. The nature of the people has not really changed; this is demonstrated by three generations all devouring prohibited reading. It is just the circumstances that are really different.
THANK YOU TO;
Molly Ellson
Joan Smith
Wendy Baker