ABSTRACT
In an influential contribution to the continuing debate over Beatrice Webb's relationship to the women's movement, a point advanced by Barbara Caine (1982) to support her claim that Webb "was not particularly active" in campaigns waged specifically to improve the situation of women was that she rarely attended meetings of the Fabian Women's Group (F.W.G.) and refused to immerse herself within the Group or become actively involved in its research or reform projects. Indeed, Caine asserts that rather than concentrating on the position of women and giving support to the Group, Webb confined "herself to inviting members to tea and in some cases adding her name to public statements" (Caine 1982, p.36). This chapter challenges Caine's depiction of Webb's relationship to the Fabian Women's Group and argues that Beatrice in fact had a long and productive engagement with the Group. It is conceded she rarely attended meetings and did not fully immerse herself in the organisation if by this is meant she did not abandon all other interests. However, the minutes of the Group reveal that over many years she helped shape its research program, made a great many contributions to the organisation's maintenance and development and actively promoted the Group within the Fabian Society.
