From the sources available in section A, as well as my own knowledge, I can see that prior to the War women, especially working class were treated poorly. They were also restricted to their homes with little job prospects available to them. Men treated them in a manner that was unpleasant and extremely derogatory. I think that people had little respect for women and they had virtually no rights, the little that they did have only came with wealth. Women did nothing to fight against this injustice at the time and suffered without a way of escape, bound to the home and inferior to men. I think that this period may have had some influence on women’s liberation, as living in these conditions would have provoked any person to make a stand to be freed from them.
Soon after this period in time, women tolerated their mistreatment no longer and despised being seen as unequal to men. The majority of women were affected by some sort of prejudice from the opposite sex and wanted to take action to assure them whatever sense of equality that they could obtain, especially where voting was concerned. Women at this period in time wanted nothing more than equal voting rights to men. Some women, who wanted to take action sooner rather than later despised the cautious and ineffective approach that many women took. As a result, these women created the beginnings of the "Suffragette" movement in 1903, which was led by Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters. Source B1 states “Their coachmen, their gardeners, the very labourers on the estate have votes, while the mistress who employs and pays them is not considered competent to give this simple vote.” I think this is a key statement in the argument for women’s suffrage, it shows not only the attitude of people, but the attitude of parliament as well. It shows how little women were thought of and places the argument that if these lowly people can vote then why can’t a woman? B1 was written by Emily Hall, a suffragette who puts forward their many arguments clearly. She thought many women, like herself had proven their worth and capability. Also, if all the governed should have a right in a free country, why should this equal right belong to one sex and not the other? She also said, if the men and women owning a property pay the same rates, then why are their rights unequal? A historian would find this source very useful because it clearly states the way the way the Suffragettes thought, and it outlines the many arguments they had. I think that this source would be reliable as it was written by a suffragette and unless you wanted a balanced view this source tells you how many women thought.
However men began to publish counter arguments in women’s magazines. Source B1 also shows arguments presented by Frederick Ryland in “The Girls Own Paper,” in 1896. It is a useful and reliable source as not only was it published in a magazine at the time, it gives us an insight into why men did not support the suffragettes. Male politicians of the time, were set against Suffragettes arguing that the whole numbers of voters would be swamped because the majority of them. One politician in particular, Herbert Asquith, (source B4) stated his refusal to accept the women’s vote, saying that he would not agree to women’s suffrage until all women agreed to vote, which at the time they would not. These feelings are echoed in sources B2 and B3, and would be regarded as very useful by a historian because they tell us how politicians of the time thought. However they may be biased, as they could be propaganda to win people over to their way of thinking.
The aim of the suffragettes was to gain publicity and to make known their views. Source B5 states they did so by interrupting social meetings, chaining themselves to railings in Downing Street, some even turned to violence, planting bombs and vandalism. This shows how much the way in which women viewed themselves had changed. I found this source useful as it told me the lengths some women would go to, to obtain the vote. They now thought themselves to be equal, whereas in the previous generation they had to listen to males telling them that they were beneath them. However the source lacks an attribution and may not hold reliable information. One unfortunate yet important incident that brought the aims of the Suffragette movement into the public eye was the death of Emily Davison, a suffragette herself, at the Epsom races on June 4th 1913. In source B6, it states that she threw herself under the King’s horse, fatally injuring herself, as well as the jockey. She was labelled a "martyr" after her death and the fact that she was willing to die for her cause made a lasting impression. Five years later in 1918, women over thirty were given the vote, mainly because of the massive contribution to the war effort made by women. This source does have a strong impact on the reader because of the nature of the event not the quality of the source and will remain in their heads. Source B6 also lacks reliability because it is not attributed and its origin is unknown. Source B7 also makes a statement about the Derby of 1913. It was written in the Times the day after the race. The source says that, “Reckless fanaticism is not regarded by (the public) as a qualification for the franchise.” This source would have moved support away from the suffragette’s and made liberation seem impossible. This is an extremely useful source as it shows how men were still against women becoming equal. It also shows how newspapers were employed to convince the public not to tolerate the suffragette’s actions. I think that B6 in comparison to B7 is much poorer. I did not like the source particularly, as although it told you about the event the rest of the information given was weak. It was also not attributed so in comparison to the Times article in B7 an historian would have little use for it.
As source B8 shows, the Government tried to make these women’s lives difficult by blaming as many crimes as they could on the Suffragettes, e.g. the burning of Trowbridge Mansion. A historian would find this source useful due to its valuable historical content, but it is not attributed so you have to question the information given. Source B8 also shows how widespread the movement was. This reinforces how strongly women believed in their right to vote.
Sources B10, B11 and B12 show how the government acted towards the suffragettes. They issued many arrests and submitted many to various methods of torture. Source B11, says, “The sensation is most painful – I have to lie on the bed, pinned down… one doctor stands holding the funnel end at arms length, and the other doctor forces the other end up the nostrils.” These extreme methods that the government used would have frightened women and assured that few would attempt to get at the government by starving themselves. A historian would find this source extremely useful as it describes what action the government took. It also makes me sympathise with the suffragettes as they only resorted to such extreme methods, as the government would not listen to them. Source B12 tells us of a Lady who suffered so dreadfully through torture that she became paralysed and of two more that were alleged to have died as a result of police brutality. The violence of suffragette protests was such that they lost much of their support, and I doubt that this was what the suffragettes were aiming for. Many or their keenest sympathisers lost patience as shown by, “I hear that several men in the house who were going to support the Bill now declare that they will have nothing to do with it.” This was because their methods of achieving their goals through violence was regarded as idle threats when they began, and were later acted on by the Government with force and counter violence. They meant to gain support for their cause instead they damaged it by being too heavy handed.
It is difficult to determine if the Suffragette movement really did gain the vote for women. The violent actions the suffragette’s made cost them a lot of support and possibly delayed their liberation. More women were arrested and attacked than ever before and for a long period of time. There was no sign whatsoever of a vote at the time, despite their suffering. It was not given to women until years later, and was only given to women over 30 because of the effort they put into the war. However for the view to be balanced I need to say that their use of violence portrays how desperate they were. Their actions could have also encouraged the release of the vote as it brought their cause to the public eye and made people aware that there was a problem and it wasn’t being heard. Even though they may have brought their cause to public attention I think they did little to convince the public that there should be a change, which is shown by men publishing counter arguments in women’s magazines. I think the suffragette movement did not cause the liberation for women. However I do feel that it helped suffrage as it showed the public how desperately they wanted the vote. When the First World War began in 1914, the majority of British men left to fight abroad. Leaving women to fend for themselves and for once earn their own wage. Many of the men’s jobs became available to them and for once women felt slightly more valued, even though they were paid a fraction of a mans wage. There was a huge change in the way that women were viewed, for once the Government needed women’s help and needed their contribution in the War. The Government literally called out to them for their help to keep the War effort going.
“The Government can’t win without you.”
David Lloyd George
This source in my opinion is really important. It echoes the Government’s desperate need for women’s contribution to the War effort. David Lloyd George is almost begging for their help. A historian would find this source extremely useful because it shows the desperation of the country and its need for the women’s help. When the War broke out, the Suffragettes suspended their protests and demonstrations, which had caused the Government many hassles. They took about the view as said in B2 “What would be the good of the vote without a country to vote in?” They began to help in any way that they could because they believed that a National victory was needed amongst the women of the nation especially. Some people were astonished by this and wondered how they could support a government who had treated women so badly. Suffragettes however put that behind them and supported their country with much enthusiasm. A historian would find this source particularly useful because it states the aims and reasons for strongly contributing to the War effort. It is a very reliable source because it comes from one of the Suffragette leaders and it is a primary source. As these women such “zeal” in the war effort it reversed the effects their earlier antics had on the general public. Source C3, shows this as it says, “The suffragette was re-christened Britannia.” To me this says it all, it shows how the suffragettes were really pulling together for the war effort and it shows how people’s view of women was changing. Source C3 indicates that many women took advantage of the many job opportunities available to them all of a sudden, including Factory and Ammunitions work. A historian would find this source useful because it shows how women worked in different jobs as a result of the War and the reformation of people’s views. From this source it is safe to say that the First World War presented newer and more job opportunities for British women. They were no longer restricted to the home and were able to perform other valuable duties because of the War and the lack of male support in Britain. Source C4 shows two posters that are showing women contributing to the War effort. A historian would find this source useful because both posters show some of the Government’s methods of getting women to work and support the War. The slogan “These women are doing their bit” epitomises the government’s attempts of propaganda. Source C4 also shows the types of jobs they did- in factories and farms.
Sources C5, C6, C7 and C9 all support source C4 as these sources show women doing work that they had previously been disallowed to do. According to source C11, In 1918, over four times as many women were working in Munitions related jobs than four years previously, which is a massive rise. Munitions had the largest employment increase because Ammunition was needed to fuel the War. From this source I can also see that Domestic Service lost female employment from 1914 to 1918 because women were doing other jobs than those that they previously did. Career opportunities continued to arise at this time for women because the employers began to trust them and they learnt that they were perfectly capable workers.
Source C11 is an extremely useful source as it includes many accurate figures on job increases and decreases at the time. It is reliable because it is a secondary source that has been written after the War and therefore has no need to be biased.
The sources in this section tell me that a large amount of women were happy and enthusiastic about the war effort. They were given more responsibilities and respect because of the First World War and put a lot of effort into their work as source C10 shows, when a woman was killed for supporting the allies. The sources in this section are extremely useful and show that the First World War really did have a great impact on the course of liberation for women. On the other hand, they only tell us what some women thought at the time, not all. One thing that I feel I should point out is that all sources in this section are positive. They all praise women for their effort, but I don’t think that they could do otherwise. Primary sources could not because they needed women during the war. Secondary source could not as women today reading that women were not valuable during this time would be appalled and action would probably be taken against the writer. (Which shows how much things have changed today.)
However to answer the aforesaid question, you have to take into consideration the fact that even in today’s world women are not completely the equals of men. This questions whether or not the war truly liberated British women. To find the answer I will have to look at the lives of post World War One women.
The reason why women were granted the vote in 1918 was because of their tremendous effort during the War, where they helped to keep the Country together and supplied the army with equipment. Employers realised that women could the jobs of men, just as they had done during the War and also that they were just as smart and capable. This information can be gathered from source D1, D2 and D3. In source D1, David Lloyd George stresses that the success of the War was down to the "skill, enthusiasm and industry" of the women of Britain. Another interesting point made in this source is that “It would have been utterly impossible for us to have waged a successful war had it not been for women.” This once more stresses the importance of women at this time and shows the significance of the war effort on women’s liberation. An historian would find this source extremely useful because, not only has the Prime Minister attributed it, but because it also helps us to find out how the role of British women had changed during and after the First World War. The fact that the prime minister said this I feel is significant as the public would have listened to David Lloyd George and followed his example. Source D2 says that men realised that “for the first time” women were equal to them and that they were perfectly capable of hard work. This source is rather reliable because it has been taken from a modern textbook, which should have balanced views and would have no need to be biased because it is after the time. I also think that this source is useful as it shows a good overview of the opinions of women at this time and compared to sources from before the war the change of attitude shown is very significant and useful. Source D3 shows that women had done something incredible during the War, to the extent that Asquith himself, who in previous sources had strongly opposed to women getting the vote, changed his views towards women and praises them. “How could we have carried on the war without women?” This source also backs others in showing how much the war effected women’s liberation. It says “I find it impossible to with hold from women the power and the right of making their voices directly heard.” The change of attitude shown is phenomenal. A historian would find this source very useful because it shows the strong impact that the female War effort had had on the men of Britain. They would also find it reliable as Asquith, a former Prime Minister, attributes it.
Women were hugely prosperous where work was concerned during the War, but they had little to be celebrate when the fighting ended and the men returned home. Despite their best efforts, little change was made with women’s rights after the War and many women were forced to return to their homes as once again men took over their jobs. Source D4 shows that employment figures in certain industries for women rose during the War then dropped soon after it had ended. A historian would find this source very useful because of its content and its accuracy. However it lacks reliability because it is not attributed. Source D5 states that women found themselves in low status jobs once again after the War because by 1921, the majority of women had left their wartime jobs and had to return to traditional, low paid jobs. It also says “The valuable experience of the War could not be taken away.” This proves that the war did not completely liberate women, even though the experience did aid them in many ways. A historian would find this source quite useful because it includes some facts about the subject, however it isn’t really detailed and more information on the subject would definitely be needed. I am not sure about source D6. I can’t understand what is written underneath the cartoon and so do not understand the significance of the drawing. I feel that it would be found extremely useful by a historian because it was created at the time and therefore all information found on it can be counted as valid even if exaggerated to fit the cartoon. The picture shows how men viewed women, the look on the face of the man says a lot. However the woman is composed as beautiful and looks unfazed by the mans attention, which could show an alternate point of view and how the attitudes of some had changed. My opinion of this source could change if I find out what the writing says. Sources D5 to D8 show women as more confident because of the work that they had done during the War. They regarded themselves as the equals of men, even if men didn’t see it that way. Britons economy suffered a depression in the early 1920’s, unemployment rose and women were always the first to loose their jobs. Source D10 shows women being shown once more as inferior to men. It portrays a woman as a housewife and a cook. Source D11 shows that after the War, women continued to perform “typically female jobs” and be housewives again. The new freedom women attained during the War didn’t last long. Source D11 is not attributed and the information is basic deductions and hold few facts. I do not think that a historian would find it useful as I feel that any historian would like to come to his or her own conclusions. One source that I like is Source D9. This is because it shows pictures of how the images of women changed over time. It shows a woman chained to a railing, depicting the suffragette movement and the first female MP (Nancy Astor), it also shows a “flapper” wearing short skirts and smoking. I feel that this source would be extremely useful to anyone studying the topic as it shows many images each with their own meaning and history, which would inspire anyone to learn more about the different things. This source however does not have much written content and for a historian a lot of research would be needed for this source to be of any value, and it is not attributed. I find this source extremely good as one piece of information it does give about post war women is that even though some improvements were made life especially for working class women did not change.
The sources available in this section contradict each other quite a lot. The Country’s politicians e.g. David Lloyd George and Lord Asquith, who had seen the full capability of the women of Britain, expressed their changed opinions publicly. This I do not think did much to make the life of women change. However it does show that the war did play a major part in the liberation of women as politicians were willing to accept women as the equals of men. If this had not happened then women over 30 would never have been given the vote. Other sources show how the war had little effect on the lives of women and how after the war jobs had to be given back to men. After the War, women lost almost all the sense of dignity and equality that they had attained during it. The male nation had gone back to regarding them as unequal. From these source I can now see that the First World War didn’t completely liberate British women, however to conclude my essay I must take into account all the other sources included in my essay.
I think that there was definitely a noticeable change in the way that women were treated during the War. To begin with, the Government acted less oppressively towards them and they were encouraged to work more than ever. They had better work positions made available to them as a result of the War, work which they would never have had the chance to do if it were not for the huge amount of men that had left the country to fight. I think that women during this period relished the chance to prove to men what they were capable of and that they were perfectly capable of performing the same tasks as them. I feel that if this had not have happened then liberation would have been far more difficult as they would not have been able to gain the politicians support any other way. However you could say that it was because of the attitudes of women, namely the suffragettes that the opinions changed. The war may have gone very differently if the suffragettes hadn’t made peace. The sources in section B show the actions of the suffragettes to have had a great effect on the male nation. Their persistence in keeping their arguments of suffrage in the public eye, by any means necessary, certainly helped people see what they wanted, not so much deserved. Although the way women were viewed by others certainly changed at this time, probably not in a good way.
On a whole, thinking as a historian, I believe that that the First World War did not fully liberate British women. Women even up to the 1960’s and 70’s were not even close to becoming equal to men. I feel the events mentioned in my essay were important triggers to liberation, but they did not cause it. The Suffragettes played a crucial role in women’s liberation but the biggest trigger for it was the outbreak of War and efforts of British women and their contribution to victory. The War brought opportunities that would never have been made available otherwise. These opportunities ultimately allowed women to prove themselves worthy of equal rights to the men of Britain.