I was young and working with enthousiasm in the ´50 s and the 60´s.
The life of women changed in Europe due to some important facts.
Before 1886 women had no rights at all.  
The first wave of emancipation started when two American ladies were refused to enter the Court of Justice in London.
They concluded  that an International Council should be founded to emancipate women worldwide.

The International Councel of women (ICW) was founded in Washington in 1886 by five countries of which the USA, England, France and 2 other countries.
Also New Zealand and women of “down under” obtained the same rights through the British Empire
In Belgium women got voting rights   in 1948.  Firstly It was a way to recognize the women who fought during WW2.

Women and men worked in separate workplaces. 
It was a time that Women went in  group to the toilets twice a day. By accident,  the  workplaces got wrongly bombarded  by Americans in April 1944, during their visit to the toilet.
It saved the lives of the female labourors. Since 1954 women didn´t go to the toilet in group anymore.

At my job, during the “golden sixties” in the Gevaert Photo –Production plant  in Belgium women had to leave the factory after marriage.
As they were supposed to start a family and stay at home. As in good christian families.
Women were paid less in the same functions as men.  I remember saying to my boss, as a personnel manager,  :  “Good workers leaving the factory is a loss for the firm as they have to be replaced by new ones who still needed to learn the job.  
As  head of human resources, I also asked for equal pay for women and men for the same work they did. AND My boss agreed ! 

Since 1957 women got equal pay and equal rights at the factory.  
Hereby I wish all human resource managers to keep fighting for equal rights and pay.