From

1938

To

c. 1950

Occupations

Political organisation and Social action organisation

Summary

Formed by Katharine Susannah Prichard in 1938 the Modern Women's Club began as a coalition of women from the Communist Party and the Australian Labor Party's Council Against War and Fascism. It sought to provide a forum for women "of all parties and opinions" to discuss and act on issues of the day. As Joan Williams notes, it was considered by some as "most avant-garde for the time". The Modern Women's Club rejected notions of "womanly" preoccupations instead acting as a forum in which working and Aboriginal women could discuss issues of the day, in particular, peace. The club's other key concerns included equal pay, rights for women and citizenship rights for Aborigines.

Sources used to compile this entry: Williams, Justina, The first furrow, Lone Hand Press, Perth, 1976, 184 pp; Oliver, B. and Latter, B. 'Spooks, spies and subversives: the wartime security service.' in J. Gregory (ed) On the Homefront: Western Australia and World War 11. Nedlands, WA: University of Western Australia Press, 1996; Throssell, R. Wild Weeds and Wind Flowers: the Life and Letters of Katharine Susannah Prichard. London: Angus and Robertson, 1975. .