Society for Research on Women

The Society for Research on Women (SROW) was a New Zealand voluntary organisation founded in 1966 to research the position of women and their lives. There was lack of information on women and SROW did research, on a mostly voluntary basis, to support policy and planning relevant to women. Over 70 reports of research were published between 1966 and 1991. Research topics covered motherhood and solo mothers, child care, employment, retraining, the education of girls, housing, caregiving, immigrant women, abortion, finance and retirement. SROW was wound up in 2006.

History

In the 1960s New Zealand women were becoming aware of, and influenced by, the women's movement. Several initiatives to progress the position of women had occurred including the Council for Equal Pay and Opportunity (1957), the Government Service Equal Pay Act (1960), and the Joint Committee on Women and Employment (1964) leading to the National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women (NACEW) in 1967.^[1]

In 1966 a series of lectures in Wellington on the Changing Role of Women examined issues for women. The interest generated by the lectures led to SROW's formation.^[1] The founders were a group of women associated with a Newlands Playcentre, including Margaret Shields (who was later to become a Member of Parliament), Mary Mowbray and others.^[2] They identified the paucity of information on women and believed that information and scientifically grounded research findings could be used to influence government policy.^[2][3][4][5]

SROW was active from 1966 until the 1990s. There were several reasons for SROW to be wound up gradually from the early 1990s. Research on women was being done by other bodies and in the universities.^[6] The funding from government ceased in the 1980s at the same time the membership was declining. In 1991 it was decided to wind up the national organisation but two branches (Wellington and Christchurch) continued to operate.^[7]

When SROW wound up in 2006^[8] its funds were transferred to the New Horizons for Women Trust^[9] which was set up by a number of women's organisations, including SROW, to fund research on women's issues and to support women who wanted a second chance at education and training.^[10]

SROW's objectives

1. To examine from time to time the attitudes of individuals, groups, and the community to the education of girls and their subsequent employment, the factual situation and the needs of girls and women
2. To publicise the findings in the appropriate quarters
3. To endeavour by all appropriate means to bring about such changes as may be shown to be desirable.
4. To further in every way possible the general interests of women in New Zealand^[1]

Structure, membership and funding

Structure

The first SROW branch was in Wellington.^[11] By 1973 there were branches in Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and the Waikato.^[4]

SROW was committed to a structure according to feminist organisational principles wherever possible.^[1] Its structure was a grassroots one of study groups which proposed, organised and carried out research projects. Branch committees reviewed research proposals and a National Projects Committee advised and provided technical help. This structure and process ensured projects met acceptable research standards.^[11] The branches were autonomous but a National Executive of elected officers met once a month to deal with communications, bulletins etc., to set broad policies and standards, and arrange for the publication and distribution of research reports.^[7]

Membership

Membership grew to over 1100 by 1968, decreasing to the 200s by 1987. It waxed and waned with the formation of new branches and recruitment for new projects. Membership declined with the closure of branches and completion of research projects.^[12]

In the early days most members were mothers who were not in paid employment but later the number of women in paid employment increased; this reflected the changes in society.^[12]

Volunteers

SROW was founded with the intention of using volunteers to carry out research. This was partly through necessity. But there was a “strong sense of the value of women working for women” as well as using SROW to give women occupational and other opportunities through participation and training in research.^[3]  This was successful though volunteers could have quite different levels of commitment and research skills.^[12] This gave rise to problems around skills required for more intensive and skilled phases of investigations. As time went by some members had become social scientists and the necessary expertise could be found within the membership.^[13]

Funding

SROW received an annual grant from government of $5000 (later $7500) administered by a government-appointed Research Fund Administration Committee (RFAC). It evaluated research design, methods, feasibility, intended use of results and cost estimates but rarely questioned the choice of research topics. The yearly grant ended when the RFAC's functions were transferred to the new Ministry for Women's Affairs in 1988.^[7]

Publication of research reports also provided funds.^[14]

Research

In line with SROW's goals, the areas of research were broadly

1. becoming a parent
2. parenting
3. quality of life for families
4. education
5. employment
6. gender related issues (including financial management).^[14]

Achievements

From 1966 to 1991 70 pieces of work were published.^[14]

An early publication was Urban Women (1972). Over 5000 women were surveyed on employment and retraining, education, community involvement and leisure interests. It found that 60% of all New Zealand women left school without qualifications and ended up in low-paid, low-status jobs.^[4] Mary Mowbray, Joan Stagpoole and Margaret Shields presented the report to the then Minister of Finance, Robert Muldoon.^[15]

SROW's research played a key role in exposing women's inequality and disadvantage.^[4] By the time of a 1975 conference, Education and the Equality of the Sexes, SROW had demonstrated the usefulness of research as a tool in fighting inequality.^[16]

The aim of producing sound research to be used by policy makers and analysts in decision making was realised.^[14] The Society also used its own findings to make its own submissions on social policy.^[17]

SROW offered its members many opportunities. Research training equipped a number of women to enter the workforce in a research capacity. Members also gained leadership skills. Some became members of parliament, cabinet ministers and Ministers for Women (Margaret Shields and Ann Hercus) or academics in universities.^[6] Penny Jamieson, became the first woman Anglican Bishop and Silvia Cartwright became Governor-General of New Zealand. Former members of SROW held many senior positions in the public sector.

Publications and research reports

References

Citations

Bibliography

Further reading

• Mowbray, Mary; Whitcombe, Judy. "The Legacy of the Society for Research on Women (SROW)". Paper presented to the Women's Studies Association (NZ) / Pae Akoranga Wāhine Conference, University of Auckland, 2-3 Sep 2016.