VIW: Very Important Women
Women had a crucial role in the workforce during the First World War. For the first time in history, women stepped up and took on the roles of the men who were fighting in the war. This meant that women were working in fields that were previously forbidden to them.
Females took on roles in the fire services and police corps as well as becoming welfare workers and canal transport officers (These individuals were known as Idle Women) and the civilian women became in charge of rationing, recycling, farms, transportation and building. These individuals were dubbed “The Warriors on the Home Front” as they were essential in ensuring that nations continued to function while a war was taking place. |
Women, who were previously lacking permission to work in a wide range of areas, took on hard labour jobs that required strength and determination. A government that had once forbidden women from working in the field, encouraged them to take up work. While all female workers were important during this time, perhaps the most essential were the individuals who worked in the munition* factories. These women supplied the soldiers with weapons which allowed them to defend the country and were known as Munitionettes.
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A short clip depicting women working in factories (National Archives, 2011)
Independent Individuals
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There were many advantages and disadvantages that arose when women joined the workforce during world war I. At the beginning of the war, women were becoming independent and were opting to venture out and seek employment. This seemed like the perfect situation however, it quickly became evident that it was very difficult for women to hold steady jobs, whilst also being domestic housewives.
The enormous workload that these women faced, led to a “Labour Famine” in which there was a lack of individuals to keep the nation functioning. To combat this, the government began to produce propaganda* posters that were aimed at women, encouraging them to help their country by joining the workforce. This scheme was quite successful and many women stepped forward and took on an occupation. Despite the qualifications of these women, they were paid considerably less than their male counterparts. Disregarding this, the move was a positive for women, as it was successful in reducing the segregation* of females and is thought to be one of the main factors in women gaining suffrage.* |
*Definition in glossary © 2013 Sarah Jennison