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You are here: HomenextThemesnextA Gentleman's Profession

A Gentleman's Profession

Publishing until the 1980s was a business dominated by men in which old boy networks flourished. Men gave directorships to men and promoted in their own image.  Yet in a business controlled and dominated by men, women were the most numerous and potentially the most powerful group in the industry.

Wake-up call

Most women entered publishing as secretaries.  Women’s pay was lower. Their career prospects were fewer.  Women in the book trade and women in society at large were restless.

  • Anne Dolamore

    https://www.womeninpublishinghistory.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/1-Anne-Dolamore-I-was-a-woman-who-could-talk-about-cricket-1.mp3
    Transcript: 1 Anne Dolamore: 'I was a woman who could talk about cricket'
  • Fenella Greenfield

    https://www.womeninpublishinghistory.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/2-Fenella-Greenfield-recalls-feeling-invisible-at-work-1.mp3
    Transcript: 2 Fenella Greenfield: 'You were invisible'
  • Sue Bennett

    https://www.womeninpublishinghistory.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/3-Sue-Bennett-on-being-propositioned-by-a-senior-colleage-at-work.mp3
    Transcript: 3 Sue Bennett on being propositioned by a senior colleague at work
  • Kay Symons

    https://www.womeninpublishinghistory.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/4-Kay-Symons-on-assumptions-about-working-women-and-the-secretary-route.mp3
    Transcript: 4 Kay Symons: assumptions about working women and 'the secretary route'
  • Brenda Gardner

    https://www.womeninpublishinghistory.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/5-Brenda-Gardner-reflects-on-womens-socialisation-and-their-position-in-the-workplace.mp3
    Transcript: 5 Brenda Gardner: 'You don't question male authority'
  • Penny Mountain Suzanne Kendall

    https://www.womeninpublishinghistory.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/6-Penny-Mountain-and-Suzanne-Kendall-discuss-the-networks-that-helped-men-to-get-ahead-in-the-book-trade.mp3
    Transcript: 6 Penny Mountain and Suzanne Kendall discuss the networks that helped men to get ahead in the book trade
  • Liz Calder

    https://www.womeninpublishinghistory.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/7-Liz-Calder-on-office-politics-and-the-invisibility-of-women-writers-at-Jonathan-Cape.mp3
    Transcript: 7 Liz Calder on office politics and the invisibility of women writers at Jonathan Cape
  • Julia MacRae

    https://www.womeninpublishinghistory.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/8-Julia-MacRae-remembers-being-the-first-female-board-member-of-Hamish-Hamilton.mp3
    Transcript: 8 Julia MacRae remembers being the first female board member of Hamish Hamilton
  • Jane Judd

    https://www.womeninpublishinghistory.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/9-Jane-Judd-on-being-excluded-from-decision-making-in-her-company.mp3
    Transcript: 9 Jane Judd on being excluded from decision making in her company
  • Sue Bennett

    https://www.womeninpublishinghistory.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/10-Sue-Bennett-on-being-promoted-for-having-balls.mp3
    Transcript: 10 Sue Bennett on being promoted for 'having balls'
  • Julia MacRae

    https://www.womeninpublishinghistory.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/11-Julia-MacRae-recalls-having-to-work-harder-than-her-male-colleagues.mp3
    Transcript: 11 Julia MacRae recalls having to work harder than her male colleagues
  • Charlotte Gascoigne

    https://www.womeninpublishinghistory.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/12-Charlotte-Gascoigne-on-the-attitudes-that-held-women-back-in-the-workplace.mp3
    Transcript: 12 Charlotte Gascoigne on the attitudes that held women back in the workplace
  • Fenella Greenfield

    https://www.womeninpublishinghistory.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/13-Fenella-Greenfield-on-Andre-Deutsch-Diana-Athill-and-the-lack-of-role-models-for-women-in-publishing.mp3
    Transcript: 13 Fenella Greenfield on Andre Deutsch, Diana Athill and the lack of role models for women in publishing
  • Paula Kahn

    https://www.womeninpublishinghistory.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/14-Paula-Kahn-on-Longmans-move-from-Grosvenor-Street-offices-to-Harlow.mp3
    Transcript: 14 Paula Kahn on Longman's move from Grosvenor Street to Harlow
Themes
  • A Gentleman's Profession
  • The Beginning of Women in Publishing
    • The Beginning of WiP: Monthly Meetings
    • The Beginning of WiP: Conference
  • Changing the Status Quo
    • Changing the Status Quo: Training
    • Changing the Status Quo: Campaigning
    • Changing the Status Quo: WiP Beyond London
    • Changing the Status Quo: Childcare
  • Celebrating Women's Achievements
  • WiP Then and Now
  • WiP's Impact
  • British Library
  • Unwin Charitable Trust
  • The Book Trade Charity
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