With reference to either Australia or New Zealand, to what extent did the role of women significantly change between 1945 and 2005?

Candidates will consider the merits or otherwise of the suggestion that the role of women changed significantly in either Australia or New Zealand. Candidates may adopt a chronological approach or they may take a more thematic approach addressing social, economic and/or political developments. For Australia, candidates may refer to the increased number of women involved in politics and the establishment of the Women’s Electoral Lobby. Employment opportunities also increased and the Equal Pay Act of 1969 saw women win equal pay rates with men. The feminist
movement grew and some, like Germaine Greer, achieved notoriety. For New Zealand, candidates may refer to the increased number of women involved in politics, for example New Zealand had two female Prime Ministers in this period Jenny Shipley in 1997 and Helen Clarke in 1999. New Zealand passed the Equal Pay Act in 1972 and laws were also passed to protect women’s rights.