In what ways did the role of women change during the First World War?

manufacturing, in particular munitions. A further 750,000 women took on clerical, transport and other usually ‘unfeminine’ work. Even though trade unions argued that if omen replaced skilled workers than lower wages would be granted when the men returned, it was obvious women were needed after the National Registration of Manpower Report in August 1915 was published showing a need for more workers and the failure of the government to recruit enough men through the Munitions Volunteer programme. If they wanted enough men fighting the trenches, then women workers were to be needed. This paved the way for an increase in employment for women, for example, women employed in munitions grew from 83,000 in 1914 to 340,000 in 1916 and by the end of the war 947,000 women were employed. Even though there was only a small increase in employment of women from 6 million before 1914 to 7.3 million in 1918, the most significant change was the types of jobs they were permitted to perform. By the end of the war, the Victorian belief that the woman’s place was at home to look after her family was near shattered as women proved to be capable of doing more than traditional ‘caring’ roles. Though only earning on average two-thirds of the average man’s wages, being the bread-winner for the family and going out to work for the first time in traditionally male roles, many women had aspirations of how life would be like after the war. While they wanted families and a stable home, they also wanted to keep their independence because they felt more equal with men as they were performing the same tasks as they did and could keep the economy running just as well as the men could. This showed economically that women were more than capable of working as hard and well as men. Though they were unskilled and had to break up certain jobs in order to complete them, for example, a mechanic’s job was broken up into 22 parts so 22 unskilled workers could complete them, they proved themselves to be part of the workforce. Within the home, women also began to become less of the ‘feminine’ role and more of a balance of a mother and father figure. As husbands, sons, fathers and brothers were all going out to fight in the war, women were left behind to look after young children and become part of the workforce at the same time. This meant that many had to juggle being both bread-winner and emotional support for their families as children and the elderly mourned for the loss of family or prayed for their own well-being. This showed socially that though a woman was caring and had a patient demeanour, they were capable of holding their own when the moment called for it. They had the ability to step in and work alongside men. Before the end of the war, women were also given the vote. Though the reasons for giving them the vote is unclear - whether the government thought that they deserved it after helping with the war effort or whether it was to prevent further damaging suffragette behaviour – women over 30 were granted the right to vote in general elections. This was a huge morale booster for all people fighter for equality between the sexes and this led to the role of women to be more political. It showed the people that women were capable – at least in the eyes of the government, to a certain extent – could understand policies and political arguments, enough to vote for a party they believed was worthy of governing the country. To conclude, the role of women changed drastically during the First World War, economically, socially and politically. However, though they were near equals during the war, this position was challenged by many when the men returned from the trenches and whatever economic and social freedoms women felt they had found were reduced drastically.