The married woman worker debate in the 1920s Australian press

Whether married women should work for wages outside their homes was a matter of debate in 1920s Australia. Traditional and progressive views were presented on both sides of the debate. Supporters portrayed the married woman worker as financially empowered, socially respected and domestically capable. Opponents depicted her as mentally underchallenged, physically overworked and financially selfish. Both sides served to uphold, criticise or reconstuct popular notions of women's role, men's role and the spousal relationship.