Author: CAMBRIDGE UNION SOCIETY
Title: Fifth Debate on Tuesday, 21st November, 1939. "That Women University Students should have the same rights as Men" [with] The University Journal for November 25, 1939.
Description: Cambridge: Cambridge Union Society, 1939. Handbill, 225 x 80 mm. and 12 pages, 440 x 280 mm. On the day of the debate a line hung with ladies underwear was stretched across the Union roof to publicise the event. They comprised "...what we are forced to call a domestic utensil (but you know better) of a spotless white, one pair of knickers (female, pink), one pair of silk stockings (flesh colour) and last, but not least, one pale pink brassiere (Marks and Spencer). Where is the victim of this game of strip poker? Where is the generous female from whom these new found flags of the Union have been so flagrantly torn." The report of the debate on page 7 of the Journal is an entertaining read. The proposer, Mr Goldrein, "...apart from one or two unnecessary lapses into bad taste made a most promising maiden speech." Mostly around the differences in the way male and female students were treated by the University authorities. For the opposition, Mr. Edwards "...suspected the motives of the Hon proposer. The whole notion looked to him like an added opportunity for lust and licentiousness...if we weren't careful the women would soon be debating in this society as to whether men should be allowed the same rights as women. Mr Edwards didn't want this to happen. Mr Edwards didn't want anything to happen. Mr Edwards clowned for eleven minutes. It takes a clever man to be a fool. Mr Edwards is the exception which proves the rule." The motion was carried. Women were first admitted to Cambridge [Girton College] in 1869, although no degrees were awarded> in 1897 there was a riot after a vote on women getting degrees was defeated> they eventually received the right in 1949, the last British university to grant it.

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