Surplus Women

The podcast explores the historical context and societal impact of the "surplus women" phenomenon in post-World War I Britain. It examines the 1921 census revealing a significant gender imbalance due to war casualties and emigration, leading to social anxieties and the stigmatization of unmarried women. Rosemary Cresswell, a Senior Lecturer in Global History at the University of Hull, provides insights into the historical trends and factors contributing to this imbalance, including emigration and higher infant mortality rates among boys. The discussion highlights how women's roles and opportunities expanded during the war, with many reluctant to return to traditional domestic roles, and how the marriage bar further incentivized women to remain single to pursue careers. The episode also analyzes how literature, particularly detective novels by Dorothy L. Sayers and Agatha Christie, offered more nuanced and positive portrayals of single women, challenging prevailing stereotypes. Camilla Nelson discusses how modern adaptations sometimes undermine these characters by imposing romantic backstories.