What effect did the 1914-18 War have upon the role and status of women Essay Example
What effect did the 1914-18 War have upon the role and status of women Essay Example

What effect did the 1914-18 War have upon the role and status of women Essay Example

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  • Pages: 12 (3300 words)
  • Published: August 20, 2017
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Before 1914, women faced mistreatment, oppression, and a lack of male respect across all social classes: working, middle, and upper. Women in the working class typically performed manual labor in factories, mines, and farms. Meanwhile, those in the middle class were often wealthy owners of such factories and rural properties. The upper class was made up of gentry with connections to the royal family who held top positions on the social hierarchy.

Women from all social classes encountered difficulties in gaining acknowledgement, with working class women experiencing the most exclusion. To provide for their sizable families, they frequently had to labor alongside their spouses in mines and factories. Despite elevated mortality rates, these women needed to be physically robust to manage a variety of job duties and bear multiple offspring. They also bore the brunt of domestic tasks like house

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keeping and childcare without any assistance or time-saving devices. Consequently, their obligations were arduous and tedious.

Individuals with working-class backgrounds often had limited opportunities and education due to growing up in impoverished families. Women were usually given lower priority for education than men, resulting in reduced job options and wages. These factors, along with poor living and employment conditions, contributed significantly to a shorter lifespan for working-class women who lived an average of only 22 years – less than half the life expectancy of middle-class females.

The middle class lifestyle presented a stark contrast to the harsh realities of daily life. The lady of the house would usually wake up late in the morning and depend on her maid for dressing and washing, with her meals prepared for her. This left her ample time to socialize with friends or

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engage in needlework. On the other hand, a middle-class man sought an attractive wife who also possessed financial status, considering her as a fashionable accessory. Domestic duties were managed by hired servants while governesses looked after female children.

In the past, boys received schooling to acquire skills for attaining high-paying jobs while girls stayed at home with a governess. Girls were taught music and perhaps a foreign language to make them more desirable to potential husbands chosen by their fathers. Women of the household were not permitted to work even if they desired, as it would suggest that the husband could not provide for them. However, women were encouraged to engage in charitable work such as visiting the sick and impoverished for building their family's reputation. The upper and middle-class women faced similar expectations; they had to stay at home and maintain their appearance as their husbands and fathers held similar views. The ladies would receive financial support, and their only task was to look pretty.

Men and gentlemen shared certain expectations for their wives. These included complete loyalty, despite their own potential infidelity. If the wife were to be unfaithful, she would typically face immediate divorce, with no rights whatsoever, even to her own children. Additionally, obedience was highly valued. Wives were expected to never question their husbands publicly, as this could lead to embarrassment in front of peers. Unfortunately, women were often treated as inferior, which became unbearable for many of them.

The Suffragists, a group of non-violent lobbyists, united to lobby MP's for the right to vote in the mid 19th century. They organized marches, sent letters, and entertained MP's with tea in

attempts to persuade them, but had no direct progress towards their goal. Despite this, they gained respect and brought the idea to the attention of Parliament, though it was repeatedly dismissed.

As a result of the ineffectiveness of this approach, a faction formed known as the Suffragettes, or Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) as referred to by the media, led by Emily Pankhurst. Their strategy differed, involving more aggressive methods. Commencing in 1905, the Suffragettes interrupted a political assembly in Manchester which resulted in the publicity they sought. In 1908, they chained themselves to the railings of Members of Parliament and arranged for newspapers to be present when the police appeared, earning significant media attention.

Starting in 1909, Suffragettes escalated their tactics by breaking windows and burning down the properties of MPs. This led to imprisonment, court appearances, and hunger strikes for publicity. To prevent deaths from starvation in police custody, the government enacted the 'Cat and Mouse Act'. When ill women were released to recover before being immediately re-arrested, this cycle often continued for their entire sentence. In late 1913, Emily Davison became a martyr after throwing herself under the King's horse at the Derby while attempting to place a rosette in Suffragette colors (purple, white, and green) on it. Her act drew significant attention to their cause and appeared in newspapers for weeks. However, violence between Suffragettes and police persisted with police becoming increasingly aggressive towards them.

England declared war on Germany on August 4th, 1914, which ended the deadlock between the two sides. In response, the suffragettes put aside their activism and expressed full support for the government instead of protesting or attacking

MPs. Emily Pankhurst, their leader, even formed a friendship with an MP who eventually became prime minister - providing them with a valuable contact in parliament. Together, they hosted rallies to encourage involvement in the war effort and gathered luxury items such as whiskey, cigarettes, and chocolate to send to soldiers. However, some unwanted gifts like Bibles and storybooks were also sent.

During the war, women showed their support for the government by boycotting men who weren't at war and giving white feathers of cowardice to those they saw in public without uniforms. This was part of the propaganda campaign that also included posters such as Kitchener's famous "I want you!" recruitment poster. The war effort became immensely popular, with the most recruits signing up in the first few months of the conflict, swamping recruitment offices and leading to long lines. Lord Kitchener, who served as minister for war after retiring from the military, originally asked for 100,000 men to sign up, but by 1916, there were 2.6 million new recruits, including boys as young as 14 who often lied about their age to join.

The popularity of the war was soaring as the media and expectations of it ending by Christmas amplified it. To add to this, the army established 'Pals regiments' which comprised of local street residents, football teams, and sometimes even entire school year groups. When the regular army was dispatched to war initially, they were surrounded by crowds of women all vying for their attention. This mobbing continued upon their arrival in France and they wrote back to their younger brothers, emphasising what they were missing out on. This caused a

surge in interest with many young boys wanting to be a part of it. Unfortunately, this sudden departure of working men caused a significant problem. There were hundreds of thousands of job vacancies that now needed filling, often done by newly retired individuals and school leavers.

Women faced limited job opportunities during the war, with few exceptions. Wives of business owners were relied upon to manage tasks such as delivering milk or coal. Middle-class women with driving skills became ambulance drivers while those without that skill worked as nurses in healthcare. Working-class women had to continue working to support their families. However, some men remained in vital industries like coalmines and agriculture.

At first, there was no urgency for women to enter the workforce as employers favored hiring recently graduated or retired men. However, this supply decreased over time due to health issues and other factors. Despite gender stereotypes and limited opportunities for higher-paying jobs, some women were able to find employment through familial connections.

During the war, women were given jobs like milk rounds and chimney sweeps to ensure their husbands had work to come back to, but many saw it as a chance to prove themselves and enjoyed the work, even if it was unskilled. In addition to these jobs, there was a growing need for typists, telephone operators, and secretaries. While these jobs had existed before the war, they were expanding rapidly and required more staff, making women the perfect option for these roles.

Women were often compelled to work in munitions factories, which were hazardous due to the threat of air attacks by German Zeppelin bombers. The Woolwich Royal Arsenal factory, the largest and

most productive of these facilities, supplied bullets and shells for frontline artillery. Despite the danger of explosions, women were employed in these unpleasant jobs as an alternative career path.

Around one million women were employed in munitions factories across the country, where working conditions were hazardous and unpleasant due to the chemicals used and lack of protective clothing. The factories emitted bad odors and the acid used in the process often spilled on workers. Furthermore, the need for personnel to maintain order indicated the hostile nature of the work environment.

In a munitions factory of significant size, approximately 16 to 18 individuals would experience injury or illness nightly. Due to insufficient knowledge regarding the chemicals involved in munitions production, female workers endured severe and lasting afflictions. TNT poisoning caused many to fall ill, beginning with cold symptoms but quickly escalating to excruciating pain and fatality with few survivors. Notably, exposure to these chemicals resulted in a distinct physical appearance, including yellow skin and ginger hair, earning the workers the moniker "The Canaries".

The chemicals at the workplace caused infertility in all female employees. The job, however, offered good pay and increased independence to the women. While travelling to work, men acknowledged their contribution. Many women trained to become nurses and tended to soldiers near the frontline due to a significant demand for it. As male family members had already signed up for the army, it was enough incentive for women to join. The middle classes made up the majority of women employees due to their attitudes towards the job.

The difference in attitude towards joining the forces during World War I was evident between the middle class women, who

were brought up with the motto "For king and country", and the lower working class, who were more skeptical. Two main nurse groups emerged during this time: the VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachments) and the FANY (First Aid Nursing Auxiliary). Despite being poorly paid and part-time nurses before the war, they had basic training to handle injuries and were not treated differently than men in similar roles. Elizabeth, Baroness de T'Serclaes, describes in her autobiography the daily routine of these nurses, which involved sleeping in their clothes and cutting their hair short to fit under their caps.

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At times, our clothing was infested with lice and we had to use a knife's blunt edge to scrape them off. Additionally, our undergarments clung to our skin.

The women were treated equally and exposed to the same hardships as the men. Despite being portrayed as fairy tale characters, they worked in noisy wards alongside screaming men and gramophones. However, a disadvantage for the female recruits was their lack of knowledge about events at the front, which gave them ample time to ponder.

The establishment of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) was a result of generals' concern in 1917 regarding potential manpower shortages caused by significant soldier loss during major battles. To address this issue, they decided to bring those serving in non-combat roles to the front line and recruit replacements.

The Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) was established during World War I with the intention of having women perform crucial duties including cooking, cleaning, waitressing, secretarial work and even instructing the public on how to use a gas mask. Despite not being granted full

military status, the women were given uniforms that consisted of tight khaki caps and jackets paired with skirts no longer than 12 inches. The women held ranks for structure but were enrolled rather than enlisted; therefore they would be subjected to a civil court rather than a military one. Between 1917 and its end, over 55,000 women joined the WAAC during the war.

Although replacement soldiers were not directly involved in combat, they were subjected to shelling attacks and bombings during the Great War. The loss of nine of these soldiers sparked public outrage, with many blaming the Germans for their atrocious act. However, as the replacements were there to stand in for soldiers, they were considered legitimate targets for attack.

The war effort was bolstered by thousands of farmers who volunteered for military service even before conscription was introduced. Despite this contribution, farmers had not been replaced after two years of war, leading to a severe shortage of food. As a result, conscription became mandatory in 1916; however, farmers and miners were exempt due to the scarcity of food and fuel.

The situation worsened with German U-boats sinking every food ship resulting which led to a drastic reduction in imported food supplies. Since half of the country's food came from abroad and it relied heavily on imported goods overall establishment land army was deemed necessary during this period.

During the war, thousands of urban women entered the workforce to ensure sufficient food supply for the country's survival. Their efforts resulted in the elimination of the need for Canadian wheat imports and Australian meat. This significant transformation in women's roles had a profound impact on societal attitudes towards women.

Women in the WAAC encountered similar challenges as their male counterparts during the war effort. However, they often worked in more comfortable positions such as nurses and cooks and did not experience the same level of hardship as men on the front lines.

In 1917, with 12,000 trained men behind the lines, the army's desperation to release them to fight led to the decision to allow women to take over more menial jobs. However, they were prohibited from fighting in the frontline, and trade unions were wary of women potentially taking lower wages and overtaking male jobs. An agreement was reached in 1915 between the government and trade unions, stipulating that women would be paid equally to men for the duration of the war and until sufficient male labor became available. While attitudes towards women had shifted, their progress fell short of expectations.

In the war zones, women faced the same difficulties as men who were replaced. This was only partially correct since they endured hardships similar to men performing menial tasks behind the front lines. The suffering experienced by women was nowhere near that of men at the frontline. About 12,000 women worked behind the lines in 1917 enabling men to fight. Army personnel were grateful to them for releasing men for battle.

The WAAC was responsible for the change in attitudes towards women in munitions factories during the war. Although trade unions remained wary of female workers and feared that they would undercut the wages of returning male soldiers, the government and trade unions reached an agreement in 1915. Women were paid equal wages to men but were expected to leave their jobs when the war

ended.

Before the war, the media was using negative propaganda against women and suffragettes. However, during the war, their attitudes changed drastically. For example, The Observer featured a quote in 1916 by J L GAVIN stating, "Time was when I thought that men alone maintained the state. Now I know that men alone never could have maintained it." This newspaper had formerly displayed a negative stance towards women, but this quote demonstrates their altered perspective. The shift in perception was a significant change for women, from being underestimated to being relied upon for running the state while men fought in the war.

In 1918, while serving as prime minister, Lloyd George expressed gratitude for women's crucial role during the war in a speech. He had previously collaborated with Emily Pankhurst when he was the minister for munitions and had formed favorable connections throughout the government. Despite differences within the liberal democratic party concerning women's suffrage, Lloyd George championed their cause and rallied the party to endorse their right to vote.

Women's suffrage achieved a significant milestone in 1917 with the passage of a law that granted voting rights to six million middle-class adult women. The measure received overwhelming support in parliament and demonstrated a major shift towards societal attitudes regarding women's rights, with only 23 dissenting votes. This change was largely influenced by the experiences of women during the war, which had exposed their great oppression by men prior to the conflict and fueled calls for change.

During the war, nurses had the opportunity to travel and gain independence, but they were exposed to horrifying sights while caring for soldiers and civilians with severe injuries. Despite these challenges, they

proved capable and earned respect from their male counterparts. Women also experienced stress and fear of losing loved ones through telegrams notifying them of deaths in battle. The Battle of the Somme was especially devastating, resulting in 20,000 deaths and 60,000 injuries on its first day alone. Some mothers even lost all their sons in one attack, causing immense suffering for women back home.

To honor these individuals, women wore black dresses and men wore black armbands. Clothing was also altered; women began wearing trousers for functionality and mobility, while men were uncomfortable with this trend as they believed it went against tradition. They feared that women would begin behaving like men by smoking, drinking, and swearing. Despite their concerns, some women had already started engaging in such activities publicly, which was considered scandalous at the time.

Women gained greater financial independence with the emergence of less restrictive jobs, like factory work. This enabled them to engage in enjoyable activities, such as visiting coffee houses. Domestic service had been the primary profession for women prior to this development. However, the establishment of munitions factories throughout the country created new employment opportunities for women. While female workers earned less than their male counterparts, they received considerably better wages compared to what they could earn through domestic service. Consequently, young women between 18-19 years old often earned more money than their fathers - a fact that occasionally led to resentment from working daughters' fathers.

Women were previously restricted by societal norms and lacked decision-making abilities, including limitations on sexual behavior. However, attitudes and behaviors towards these issues transformed during the war. Unmarried individuals gained empowerment in decision-making, particularly women

who no longer felt shame in expressing their sexuality. Such a shift was so significant that public displays of affection between men and women, once discouraged, became more accepted.

Following the loss of numerous soldiers in foreign territories, a new perspective on existence emerged. This resulted in an increase in engaging in public sexual activity and living life for the present moment. As a result, there was a noticeable surge in illegitimate offspring. The war also brought about transformations for certain women as they were able to participate in war work which allowed them to leave their households, acquire financial support, enhance their self-assurance and familiarize themselves with the world beyond their home. A survey involving more than 3000 women revealed that over 2500 desired to maintain their jobs after the conclusion of the war.

Although the number of women employed in munitions factories decreased after the war, they encountered additional obstacles. The general belief was that women should resume domestic service and accept lower pay, with those who continued to work being accused of selfishness. Nonetheless, this standard did not extend to widowed women who had to earn a living and carry out their deceased spouse's responsibilities.

The war resulted in a gender imbalance, with a surplus of women compared to men. Consequently, 33% of women had the sole responsibility of providing for their families. This resulted in financial hardships as the cost of living increased and wages remained stagnant or ceased altogether. Individuals who relied on restricted allowances or steady incomes were unable to maintain themselves under these circumstances.

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