Episode 2
Eighteen modern women go back to the factory floor of 1973 to learn how an unsung army of factory girls took on the fight for equality at work and at home. Presented by Alex Jones.
The women's journey started in 1968 and now it is 1973 and they have new clothes, new hair and new expectations. Conservative Edward Heath is prime minister and flares, flicks and platforms are all the rage. Factory floors across Britain are still dominated by a female workforce but even though the Equality Act had been passed in 1970, the women have to put their expectations on hold. They discover that things are still far from equal on the factory floor - the Equality Act may have been passed in 1970, but factory bosses had been given five years to prepare themselves.
In 1973, manufacturing output and productivity was at its highest since the war. The women are tasked with producing the 70s' must-have fashion staple - bright orange flares. And with business booming, targets have to be met.
As employment is high, there is plenty of work available for those who want it in the south Wales valleys. Employers are desperate to keep women working for them and are even willing to offer shifts which fit around childcare, allowing a generation of married women to return to the workplace. Our factory welcomes two new employees, Laura and Ricky, who need to catch up quickly. Ricky bucks the trend as a male machinist and his end-of-week pay packet sends shock waves around the factory.
The workers are also having fun, experiencing the upsides of factory work - enjoying the range of clubs and activities which factory bosses supported while manufacturing was still thriving. From football practice to slimming club, the women experience the rich social life of the factory. A day trip to Barry Island also sees the women let their hair down for a proper 1970s day out at the seaside complete with ice cream and dodgem cars.
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Music Played
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Thin Lizzy
Whiskey In The Jar
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David Bowie
Suffragette City
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Thin Lizzy
Whiskey In The Jar
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Fleetwood Mac
Oh Well
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Eumir Deodato
Also Sprach Zarathustra
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Billy Preston
Outa-Space
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Aretha Franklin
Rock Steady
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Billy Preston
Outa-Space
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Simon Park
Eye Level
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Stevie Wonder
He's Misstra Know-It-All
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Gladys Knight & the Pips
Midnight Train To Georgia
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Hot Butter
Popcorn
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Hot Butter
Popcorn
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Tom Jones
She's A Lady
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Suzi Quatro
Forty Eight Crash
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Brotherhood of Man
Happy Ever After
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The Temptations
Papa Was A Rollin' Stone
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Pink Floyd
Us And Them
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Sweet
Block Buster!
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Pink Floyd
Us And Them
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Nick Drake
Hazy Jane 1
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Erik Paliani
Chitukutuku
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The Kinks
Holiday
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Dusty Springfield
Spooky
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Dusty Springfield
Spooky
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Strawbs
Part Of The Union
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Derek and the Dominos
Layla
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T. Rex
Jeepster
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T. Rex
Jeepster
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Gilbert O鈥橲ullivan
Get Down
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Stevie Wonder
Superstition
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Gilbert O鈥橲ullivan
Get Down
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Marie Osmond
Paper Roses
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Stevie Wonder
Higher Ground
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Free, The Free
All Right Now (Single Version)
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Stevie Wonder
Higher Ground
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Candi Staton
Young Hearts Run Free
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Helen Reddy
I Am Woman
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Alex Jones |
Series Producer | Catrin Griffith |
Production Company | Wall to Wall Media |
Broadcasts
- Thu 13 Sep 2018 20:00
- Wed 19 Sep 2018 20:0091热爆 One Wales & Wales HD only
- Mon 1 Oct 2018 08:00
- Fri 28 Dec 2018 16:3091热爆 Two Wales & Wales HD only
- Sat 30 May 2020 13:1591热爆 Two except Scotland & Wales
- Sun 28 Jun 2020 16:4591热爆 Two Wales & Wales HD only
- Tue 25 Jan 2022 15:1591热爆 Two except Scotland & Wales
- Tue 25 Jan 2022 19:0091热爆 Two Wales HD & Wales only
- Tue 5 Sep 2023 15:3091热爆 Two except Scotland