Woman, the word 'woman' denotes a female human being of any age. (Indian Penal Code, s. 10)
By the (English) Interpretation Act, 1889, s. 1, reproducing 13 & 14 Vict. c. 21, s. 3, words in any Act of Parliament passed after 1850 importing the masculine gender include females unless the contrary intention appears. Women became qualified to be registered as apothecaries by the Apothecaries Amendment Act, 1874 (37 & 38 Vict. c. 34), s. 5; as surgeons by the College of Surgeons Act, 1875 (38 & 39 Vict. c. 43), s. 2; and as medical practitioners by the Medical Amendment Act, 1876 (39 & 40 Vict. c. 41), s. 1, and see infra.
The Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act, 1919, s. 1, provides that a person shall not be disqualified by sex or marriage from the exercise of any public function, or from being appointed to or holding any civil or judicial office or post, or from entering or assuming or carrying on any civil profession or vocation, or for admission to any incorporated society (whether incorporated by Royal Charter or otherwise), and a person shall not be exempted by sex or marriage from the liability to serve as a juror. A peeress in her own right is not entitled to a writ of summons to the House of Lords, Rhondda's (Viscountess) Petition, (1922) 2 AC 339.
The Parliamentary Franchise was extended to women by the Representation of the People Act, 1918, which also contains provisions regulating the registration of women as local government electors, and the Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act, 1928 (18 & 19 Geo. 5, c. 12). See ELECTORAL FRANCHISE.
The (English) Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act, 1918, provides that a woman shall not be disqualified by sex or marriage for being elected to or sitting or voting as a member of the Commons House of Parliament.
Under the British North America Act, 1867 (30 & 31 Vict. c. 3), s. 24, 'persons' includes women, Edwards v. A.G. for Canada, 1930 AC 124.
As to employment of women in factories, see (English) Factory and Workshop Acts, 1901 to 1929, especially the employment of women [(English) Young Persons and Children Act, 1920 (10 & 11 Geo. 5, c. 65)], for the purpose of which 'woman' means, by s. 156 of the Act of 1901, a woman of eighteen years of age or upwards, and by s. 61 of which a woman may not be employed at anytime during four weeks after childbirth. The (English) Coal Mines Act, 1911, and the Metalliferous Mines Act, 1872, prohibit employment below ground in coal and metalliferous mines; and the (English) Agricultural Gangs Act, 1867 (30 & 31 Vict. c. 130), regulates it in agricultural gangs. See LAUNDRY.
At Common Law words imputing unchastity to a woman required special damage to be actionable; but this injustice was put an end to by the (English) Slander of Women Act, 1891 (54 & 55 Vict. c. 51).
As to the national status of married women, in accordance with the Hague Convention of the 12th April,1930, on the conflict of nationality laws, see the (English) British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, 1933 (23 & 24 Geo. 5, c. 49), substituting a new s. 10 in the Act of 1914 (4 & 5 Geo. 5, c. 17), and see also ss. 11 and 12 of the 1914 Act.
See MARRIED WOMEN'S PROPERTY ACT.
A female who has completed the age of 21 years, State of Uttar Pradesgh v. Kaushailiya, AIR 1964 SC 416: (1964) 4 SCR 1002.
Means a woman employed, whether directly or through any agency, for wages in any establishment. [Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (53 of 1961), s. 3(o)