What Women Want

The archive consists of completed survey postcards, letters and interim report. All of which are outputs of, rather than administrative or background records relating to, 'What Women Want', a national survey, one of the first of its kind, of women's views and opinions produced by the European Women's Communications Centre in partnership with a range of organisations and groups, including the Fawcett Society, the Body Shop and Co-operative Bank. The survey was intended to encourage politicians and decision makers to listen to ordinary women and in doing so bring about changes in gender policy. Contributions were also solicited from women that were considered ‘well known in British public life'. A published copy of the survey is also held by the Women's Library (Classmark: 305.420941 WHA as of May 2010).

European Women's Communications Centre (fl.1995-fl.2002) was a a non-profit organisation that aimed to create social change from personal visions. Between Jun-Dec 1995 a national survey of women’s views and opinions was undertaken by the European Women’s Communications Centre, in partnership with women’s groups, trade unions, religious organisations, the TUC, the Fawcett Society's Campaign for Equality, the Co-operative Bank and The Body Shop. Postcards were distributed in magazines, shops, waiting rooms and elsewhere, asking women the question ’What do you want?’ Over ten thousand replies were received and collated by the Women’s Communications Centre in London. An interim report produced in Aug 1995 concentrated in the following areas of concern: women and poverty; women’s access to educational opportunities; women’s health and their access to care and services; violence against women; gender equality in economic structures, policies and work; equal shares in public life, family life and decision-making; women’s enjoyment of all human rights; and women’s participation in environmental protection and decision-making for sustainable development.

Bernadette Vallely (fl.1988-1995) founded the Women's Environmental Network in 1988; won the United Nations Global 500 Award for her environmental campaigning and Cosmopolitan Magazine's Young Women Achiever in Politics Award in 1994; Initiated and directed the survey, What Women Want in association with the Women's Communication Centre in 1995. She has also written and co-authored many books.

Original order retained.

This collection is available for research. Readers are advised to contact The Women's Library in advance of their first visit.

Donated as a gift to the Women's Library by Bernadette Vallely on 5 October 1998.

The Women's Library catalogue