The Society for Promoting the Employment of Women (SPEW) was one of the earliest British women's organisations. The society was established in 1859 by Jessie Boucherett, Barbara Bodichon, Adelaide Anne Proctor and Lydia Becker to promote the training and employment of women. The ''

Dictionary of Canadian Biography The ''Dictionary of Canadian Biography'' (''DCB''; ) is a dictionary of biographical entries for individuals who have contributed to the history of Canada. The ''DCB'', which was initiated in 1959, is a collaboration between the University of Toro ...

'' says

Maria Rye Maria Susan Rye (31 March 1829 – 12 November 1903) was a British social reformer and a promoter of emigration from England, especially of young women living in Liverpool workhouses, to the colonies of the British Empire, especially Canada. Ea ...

was also a founding member. In its early years it was affiliated to the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science, though formal connections between them were severed in 1889. The society's journal was the '' English Woman's Journal'' published by Emily Faithfull's Victoria Press. When SPEW was founded, there were few occupations who accepted the middle-class women other than a

governess A governess is a woman employed as a private tutor, who teaches and trains a child or children in their home. A governess often lives in the same residence as the children she is teaching; depending on terms of their employment, they may or ma ...

or a

lady's companion A lady's companion was a woman of genteel birth who lived with a woman of rank or wealth as Affinity (medieval), retainer. The term was in use in the United Kingdom from at least the 18th century to the mid-20th century but it is now archaism, arc ...

. SPEW made it acceptable for women to be typists, hairdressers, printers, and bookkeepers. In 1926 it was renamed the Society for Promoting the Training of Women. It changed its name again in 2014, becoming Futures for Women. It still operates today, as

registered charity A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, Religion, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good). The legal definitio ...

number 313700 and registered company number 0013103. Its papers up to 1991 are held at Girton College, Cambridge.Janus: Society for Promoting the Training of Women
/ref>

References

Organizations established in 1859 Women's organisations based in the United Kingdom 1859 establishments in the United Kingdom First-wave feminism in the United States Women and employment {{UK-org-stub