Why did the number of women employed in Britain begin to rise significantly from mid-1915?

The number of women employed in Britain began to rise significantly in mid-1915 as the First World War was just getting underway. Also, many were needed to support the men fighting on the western front, to work in the munitions factories and also provide food and clothes for the soldiers.

One factor in changing women's job opportunities was the campaigns of the Pankhursts'. Christabel Pankhurst organised a 'Right to serve March' in July 1915 in which 60,000 women took part. Due to this and the men fighting on the Western Front there was a lack of workers; leaving the women to fill the jobs left by the men.
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At first the Trade unions opposed the move. They were very against women working in their factories even though there was a shortage of shells on the western front. Because of this there became a signed document between the government and Trade Unions, who represented their male workers called The Treasury Agreement. This stated that as soon as the war was over the women would have to give their jobs back to the men. This satisfied the Trade Unions that it was okay to allow women to take over the vacancies men going to war had left.

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