How did the war change the lives of women?

Women also differed culturally partly due influences from abroad, i.e. the USA. Many new conventions and ideas were acquired by women which then resulted in their new care-free attitudes. They were no longer apprehensive about their actions, which people tended to recognise. Women were more independent, and were no longer trying to become the idealistic feminine woman. Due to the affects of links in America they had adapted to a new lifestyle and were seen as different women compared to the women in the 19th Century.

Womens' social life had expanded due to the world war. They were able to go outside alone without a chaperon guarding their moves. Drinking and smoking in public were no longer seen as taboo. Their fashion was also changed drastically. More practical clothing (i.e. trousers) and hair was fashioned and make-up was worn more heavily. The war enabled women to develop their individualism by giving them a less restrictive lifestyle therefore giving them a larger own social life.

Women had also been economically affected. They received more freedom and were given the responsibility to deal with their own in deposable incomes and therefore became their own bread winners. They had become skilled workers which allowed them to take up occupations which paid a high amount of money. Many women became munitions workers also known as canaries, which enabled them to earn large mounts of women. However this work was very unpleasant as it was dangerous and turned the workers' skin yellow, created a risk of having lung cancer and even made it hard for some women to have children. But never the less, women still carried out this job due to its high wages which shows that some women prioritised their income status rather than their health which shows how much changed economically. Therefore it can be seen that the war gave the women economic independence.

It can be proved that women were influenced heavily by World War I. Their roles in society had been altered to make them more equal to men however politically nothing had officially changed.