How useful are these two sources as evidence for the contribution of women to the war effort in the years 1914-1918?
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Introduction
4) Study sources F and G How useful are these two sources as evidence for the contribution of women to the war effort in the years 1914-1918? On there own sources F and G are useful to a diminutive extent. However it is when they are put together in context that they become very useful. Source F is an over the top propaganda poster produced by the government in 1916 for a governmental campaign. Women are portrayed as heroines for their "war effort." It aims to persuade women to enrol as munitions workers by showing a woman putting on her uniform and getting ready to work in an ammunition factory. This image is extremely persuasive as it indicates that those women who did enrol would be like the one in the poster, a woman who represents the peak of prevailing, liberation and fidelity for her country. The utility of this source is lowered due to the fact that the poster is a propaganda piece which is usually created to influence upon opinion hence in this case encourage women into industry. Another way in which the poster is persuasive is through an image in the background, which consists of a soldier preparing some weapons. ...read more.
Middle
And as I said earlier they are even more utile when seen as supporting each other. Source F could be the answer for reason why so many women were entering the industrial workforce as conveyed in the bunch of statistic in source G. 5) Study sources H, I and J and use your own knowledge. 'It was the work that women did during the war that earned them the vote'. Use the sources and your own knowledge to explain whether you agree with this interpretation. This is an opinion believed by many historians. There are many other reasons for why women gained the vote. Some of these are represented via sources H-J. Source H is an extract from a history book entitled 'Women's Suffrage in Britain, 1867 - 1928', which was written in 1980. Considering the fact that this source is from a history book, we know that it is a secondary source and that it has been based on research and therefore can be trusted. At the very beginning of the source, the author of the book openly states his or her opinion of the interpretation being nothing but basic and indistinguishable: 'A very simplified view would see the vote as a reward for loyal wartime service'. ...read more.
Conclusion
Evidently, Asquith's view is similar to that of the interpretation in the question. However, more importantly, Asquith changed his opinion and gained respect for the Suffragette campaign and thus women's suffrage despite him himself being personally victimized by the Suffragettes. Supporting the interpretation, another reason for why women gained the vote could be the Suffragettes' determination to stop their violent campaign and instead help in the war effort. Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst, two of the leading Suffragettes, saw the war as an opportunity to prove their capability. For example, they appeared at recruitment rallies to encourage men to join the army. However, opposing the interpretation in hand is the statistic that 50% of women in the suffrage movement were in fact against the war and so didn't contribute to the war effort. Even Sylvia Pankhurst broke away from her mother's organisation, the WSPU, due to her beliefs in pacifism. In conclusion, there were a number of reasons for why women gained the vote, not only their contribution to the war effort but ultimately it was bound to come as women had been challenging their collective roles since the late 1800's. Heeten Pindoria 11P ...read more.
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