Emily Dorothea Pavy (19 June 18858 September 1967) was an Australian teacher, sociologist and

lawyer A lawyer is a person who practices law. The role of a lawyer varies greatly across different legal jurisdictions. A lawyer can be classified as an advocate, attorney, barrister, canon lawyer, civil law notary, counsel, counselor, solic ...

. In 1912, she became the first

Catherine Helen Spence scholarship Catherine Helen Spence Memorial Scholarships are travelling scholarships founded by the South Australian Government in 1911 in recognition of the pioneering social worker and feminist Catherine Helen Spence. The scholarships are administered by ...

recipient. While at

London School of Economics , mottoeng = To understand the causes of things , established = , type = Public research university , endowment = £240.8 million (2021) , budget = £391.1 millio ...

, she researched the conditions of female factory workers and wrote a thesis named ''Welfare Work''. She died in 1967.

Early life

Pavy was born on 19 June 1885 in

North Adelaide North Adelaide is a predominantly residential precinct and suburb of the City of Adelaide in South Australia, situated north of the River Torrens and within the Adelaide Park Lands. History Surveyor-General Colonel William Light of the colo ...

to Cornelius and Emily Proud. Her family was

liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

, and her father advocated for women's rights, including their

suffrage Suffrage, political franchise, or simply franchise, is the right to vote in representative democracy, public, political elections and referendums (although the term is sometimes used for any right to vote). In some languages, and occasionally i ...

in South Australia. She completed her secondary education at the Advanced School for Girls and then graduated with a

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four years ...

from the

University of Adelaide The University of Adelaide (informally Adelaide University) is a public research university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. The university's main campus is located on N ...

in 1906. In 1917, Prime Minister Lloyd George had appointed her a C.B.E. by

King George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. Born during the reign of his grandmother Que ...

; she married Lieutenant Gordon Augustus Pavy in London on 10 November 1917.

Career

In 1906, Pavy commenced working as a teacher at Kyre College for five years. By 1912, she won the first Catherine Helen Spence scholarship to promote the study of

sociology Sociology is a social science that focuses on society, human social behavior, patterns of Interpersonal ties, social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life. It uses various methods of Empirical ...

by women in

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

. Pavy studied the industrial conditions of female factory workers at the

London School of Economics , mottoeng = To understand the causes of things , established = , type = Public research university , endowment = £240.8 million (2021) , budget = £391.1 millio ...

and wrote a thesis named ''Welfare Work'' which aimed to improve welfare policies and working conditions in British factories. She believed welfare measures could enhance individuality and living standards without reduced productivity, and advocated widely for women's issues through law, community service, and research. Pavy then studied law and was admitted as a lawyer in 1928, where she worked with her husband, also a lawyer, in general practice. She lectured in social science at the University of Adelaide and studied the children of divorcees. She retired in 1953.

Personal life

Pavy and her husband had two children, a son and a daughter, both of whom became medical doctors. Her husband died in 1964. Pavy died on 8 September 1967.

Early life

Career

Personal life

Publications

References

Further reading