Women at War Flashcards
(18 cards)
Workforce & Employment of Women Pre-War
Worked mostly in domestic service, sewing, teaching, or unpaid family roles. Men dominated industrial work and trades.
Workforce & Employment of Women During War (Change)
Women took on traditionally male jobs in factories (munitions, engineering), farms (Women’s Land Army), public transport (tram and train conductors), and offices since millions of men were enlisted. Over 1 million women joined the workforce in Britain alone.
Workforce & Employment of Women During War (Continuity)
Women were paid less than men and lost jobs once soldiers returned. Many employers and unions still believed men should be the main earners.
Military Involvement of Women Pre-war
Largely excluded from military service except as nurses. Few official opportunities existed for frontline service.
Military Involvement of Women During War (Change)
Served as nurses (e.g. Australian Army Nursing Service, Voluntary Aid Detachment), ambulance drivers, and clerical staff. Some women also volunteered close to front lines under dangerous conditions.
Military Involvement of Women During War (Continuity)
Women were not allowed to fight in combat roles. Leadership positions in military organisations remained male-dominated
Social Status & Expectations of Women During War (Change)
Wartime necessity gave women more public visibility, independence, and responsibility. Their work was recognised in some media and government propaganda.
Social Status & Expectations of Women Pre-war
Were expected to focus on home life, marriage, and motherhood. Public roles were limited.
Social Status & Expectation of Women During War (Continuity)
After the war, many women were pushed back into domestic roles. Traditional views of femininity and family life remained strong.
Long Term Impact of Women Pre-war
Women had minimal influence over public life and few economic opportunities.
Representation & Propaganda around Women During War (Change)
Women were used in posters urging men to enlist (“Women of Britain Say Go!”), and to show strength (e.g., working in factories with slogans like “The Girl Behind the Gun”). They were also shown as heroines in nursing roles.
Political Rights of Women Pre-war
In many countries, women had no right to vote or hold political office. They were excluded from most formal political spaces.
Political Rights of Women During War (Change)
The war effort strengthened arguments for women’s suffrage. Britain granted voting rights to some women in 1918. Australia had granted women the vote earlier (1902), but their status was reinforced by their service.
Representation & Propaganda around Women During War (Continuity)
Propaganda still reinforced traditional gender roles. Women were often portrayed as supporters, not leaders, of the war effort.
Political Rights of Women During War (Continuity)
In some countries, full political equality took decades. In many places, only property-owning or older women gained the right to vote initially.
Representation & Propaganda around Women Pre-war
Women were often shown in domestic, nurturing roles in media and public discourse.
Long-term Impact of Women During War (Change)
WWI was a turning point. It sparked debates about gender equality, and some women continued in paid work or joined post-war movements for change.
Long-term Impact of Women During War (Continuity)
Many of the social and workplace gains were rolled back in the 1920s. Long-term change took more wars, movements, and time to solidify.
