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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.

1 hour

Last on

Tue 5 Sep 2023 15:30
主播大秀 Two

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Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:02

    Thin Lizzy

    Whiskey In The Jar

  • 00:03

    David Bowie

    Suffragette City

  • 00:04

    Thin Lizzy

    Whiskey In The Jar

  • 00:06

    Fleetwood Mac

    Oh Well

  • 00:07

    Eumir Deodato

    Also Sprach Zarathustra

  • 00:08

    Billy Preston

    Outa-Space

  • 00:09

    Aretha Franklin

    Rock Steady

  • 00:10

    Billy Preston

    Outa-Space

  • 00:13

    Simon Park

    Eye Level

  • 00:15

    Stevie Wonder

    He's Misstra Know-It-All

  • 00:16

    Gladys Knight & the Pips

    Midnight Train To Georgia

  • 00:19

    Hot Butter

    Popcorn

  • 00:21

    Hot Butter

    Popcorn

  • 00:22

    Tom Jones

    She's A Lady

  • 00:23

    Suzi Quatro

    Forty Eight Crash

  • 00:26

    Brotherhood of Man

    Happy Ever After

  • 00:30

    The Temptations

    Papa Was A Rollin' Stone

  • 00:32

    Pink Floyd

    Us And Them

  • 00:33

    Sweet

    Block Buster!

  • 00:34

    Pink Floyd

    Us And Them

  • 00:36

    Nick Drake

    Hazy Jane 1

  • 00:38

    Erik Paliani

    Chitukutuku

  • 00:38

    The Kinks

    Holiday

  • 00:40

    Dusty Springfield

    Spooky

  • 00:39

    Dusty Springfield

    Spooky

  • 00:41

    Strawbs

    Part Of The Union

  • 00:47

    Derek and the Dominos

    Layla

  • 00:48

    T. Rex

    Jeepster

  • 00:49

    T. Rex

    Jeepster

  • 00:51

    Gilbert O鈥橲ullivan

    Get Down

  • 00:52

    Stevie Wonder

    Superstition

  • 00:53

    Gilbert O鈥橲ullivan

    Get Down

  • 00:55

    Marie Osmond

    Paper Roses

  • 00:56

    Stevie Wonder

    Higher Ground

  • 00:56

    Free, The Free

    All Right Now (Single Version)

  • 00:58

    Stevie Wonder

    Higher Ground

  • 00:59

    Candi Staton

    Young Hearts Run Free

  • 00:59

    Helen Reddy

    I Am Woman

Credits

Presenter Alex Jones
Series Producer Catrin Griffith
Production Company Wall to Wall Media

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