The pensionable age for women is reduced from 65 to 60 years. more on women's pensions

In the USA nylon stockings go on sale for the first time. They don't arrive in the UK until 1946.

The National Service Act is passed introducing conscription for women.  All unmarried women aged between the ages of 20 and 30 were called up for war work. This was later extended to include women aged up to 43 and to married women, though pregnant women and those with young children could be exempt.

The Trades Union Congress pledges itself to the principle of equal pay.

The Auxiliary Territorial Service (the ATS) is given equal military status with men.

The Church of England relaxes its rule which insists that women wear hats to church.

The Post Office takes on 5,000 women engineers.

The bandleader Ivy Benson  (1913-1993) and her 'girls' make their first appearance as the BBC's resident dance band.

Dame Anne Loughlin (1894-1979) becomes the first woman president of the TUC. She had been an organiser for the Tailors and Garment Workers Union since 1915.

Phyllis Deakin, a journalist with The Times, holds the first meeting of the Woman's Press Club in a pub in Fleet Street.

Verena Holmes is first woman member of Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

The Butler Education Act raises the school leaving age to 15 and lifts the ban on women teachers marrying.

France gives votes to women.

'Red' Ellen Wilkinson (1891-1947) becomes the first woman Minister of Education.

The Royal Society elects its first women fellows. They were the crystallographer, Dame Kathleen Lonsdale  (1903-1971) and the bacteriologist, Marjory Stephenson (1885-1948).

Family Allowance is introduced after a prolonged campaign led by Eleanor Rathbone  (1872-1946). 

Theatre director, Joan Littlewood  (1914-2002), sets up her Theatre Workshop.

The Royal Commission on Equal Pay recommends teachers, local government officers and civil servants should all receive equal pay.

The marriage bar is abolished in the Post Office and the Civil Service.

The first broadcast of Woman's Hour is presented by Alan Ivieson.

The School Milk Act provides a free third of a pint of milk to all schoolchildren.

Film director, Muriel Box  (1905-1991), wins a best screenplay Oscar for her film The Seventh Veil.

Dame Alix Kilroy becomes the most senior woman civil servant when she is appointed under-secretary to the Board of Trade.

The organic farming pioneer, Lady Eve Balfour  (1898-1990) founds the Soil Association.

Dr Benjamin Spock publishes Baby and Child Care  sparking a child-rearing revolution.

China gives votes to women.

On 12 February Christian Dior launches his 'New Look' for women. 

Cicely Ludlam becomes the first official British woman diplomat with her posting to Belgrade as Third Secretary (Commercial). 

Maria Callas (1923-1977) makes her first appearance in a performance of La Giocanda by Ponchielli.

The Diary of Anne Frank is first published in the Netherlands.

The introduction of the National Health Service gives everyone free access to health care. Previously it was only the insured, usually men, who had benefited from this.

Dame Lilian Penson (1896-1963) becomes the first woman vice-chancellor of a university, the University of London.

Eleanor Roosevelt  (1884-1962) plays a key role in the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Art director Carmen Dillon (1908-2000) wins an Oscar for her set designs for Laurence Olivier's film, Hamlet.

Fanny Blankers-Koen wins four gold medals at the London Olympic Games.

Iraq, Israel and Korea give votes to women.

Cambridge University finally opens its full degrees to women.

Rose Heilbron becomes the first woman King's Counsel.

Simone de Beauvoir publishes The Second Sex.

The ATS (the Auxiliary Territorial Service) was transformed into a permanent force, the Women's Royal Army Corps, (WRAC).