'A Holy Liberty in the Lord'?: South Australian Baptists and Female Gender Roles, circa 1870 to 1940

Abstract

Between 1868 and 1940, most Baptist women in South Australia
believed that their principal sphere of responsibility was the home, that
the husband was head of the family, and that men should be the ones
providing the main leadership in church and society. However, there was
a moderate expansion of Baptist women’s sphere of influence between
1870 and 1940. Despite continuing constraints, Baptist women created
and controlled their own organizations and successfully pushed for a
greater role in church and denominational life. Baptist women were also
among those who successfully campaigned for female suffrage in the
1890s. Furthermore, they took an active part in temperance campaigns
and contributed strongly to community groups that were dedicated to
social improvement. This article explores changes in Baptist women’s
roles in the context of ideas about gender roles and femininity that were
prevalent in churches and in the wider society.