By Mr S F YellandBy Mr S F YellandKing’s High School, King’s High School,

PontefractPontefract

The impact of the The impact of the war on womenwar on women

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Before the war, the most Before the war, the most common common

employment for a woman was employment for a woman was as aas a

domestic servant. However, domestic servant. However, womenwomen

were also employed in what were also employed in what werewere

seen to be suitable occupations seen to be suitable occupations e.g.e.g.

teaching, nursing, office work.teaching, nursing, office work.

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When war broke out in August When war broke out in August 1914,1914,

thousands of women were thousands of women were sackedsacked

from jobs in dressmaking, from jobs in dressmaking, millinerymillinery

and jewellery making.They and jewellery making.They neededneeded

work – and they wanted to help work – and they wanted to help thethe

war effort.war effort.

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Suffragettes stopped all militantSuffragettes stopped all militantaction in order to support the action in order to support the

warwareffort.effort.

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At first, there was much trade At first, there was much trade unionunion

opposition and the employment opposition and the employment ofof

women had not increasedwomen had not increasedsignificantly before the summer significantly before the summer

ofof1915. In July 1915, a 1915. In July 1915, a ‘Right to‘Right toWork’Work’ ,march was organised by ,march was organised by

aaleading suffragette, Christabelleading suffragette, ChristabelPankhurst.Pankhurst.

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The shell shortage crisis in 1915 The shell shortage crisis in 1915 began to change the situation.began to change the situation.Women were taken on to work Women were taken on to work

ininmunitions factories. The munitions factories. The

governmentgovernmentdid a deal with the trade did a deal with the trade

unions,unions,known as the Treasury known as the Treasury

Agreements.Agreements.The unions agreed to accept The unions agreed to accept

femalefemalelabour in place of men labour in place of men ‘for the‘for theduration of the war’duration of the war’..

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The introduction of conscription The introduction of conscription in in

1916 led to an increase in the1916 led to an increase in thenumber of women employed in number of women employed in

allallsectors of the economy.sectors of the economy.

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Many women were paid good Many women were paid good wages, wages,

especially in munitions especially in munitions factories, but factories, but

in most cases they were paid in most cases they were paid lower lower

rates than men.rates than men.

Improved wages did permit Improved wages did permit greater greater

independence for some women.independence for some women.

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Women became more visible in Women became more visible in the the

world of work. They were seen world of work. They were seen to beto be

doing important jobs.doing important jobs.

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The armed forces also employed The armed forces also employed women, but the jobs were women, but the jobs were

mainly ofmainly ofa clerical and domestic nature.a clerical and domestic nature.

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Women were in great demand Women were in great demand for for

the ‘caring’ side of employment the ‘caring’ side of employment and and

became nurses in the First Aid became nurses in the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, and drivers Nursing Yeomanry, and drivers

andandclerks in Voluntary Aid clerks in Voluntary Aid

Detachments.Detachments.

VAD’s

After the WarAfter the War

11 Women were expected to give way to men Women were expected to give way to men returning from the forces and return to pre-returning from the forces and return to pre-war ‘women’s work’.war ‘women’s work’.

22 The assumption that ‘a woman’s place is in The assumption that ‘a woman’s place is in the home’ returned.the home’ returned.

33 The percentage of women at work returned to The percentage of women at work returned to pre-war levels.pre-war levels.

44 More women than before worked in offices.More women than before worked in offices.

After the WarAfter the War

55 Shorter skirts and hair became fashionable.Shorter skirts and hair became fashionable.

66 Women went out with men without a Women went out with men without a chaperone.chaperone.

77 Women smoked and wore make-up in public Women smoked and wore make-up in public for the first time.for the first time.

88 In 1919: being female or married was no In 1919: being female or married was no longer allowed to disqualify someone from longer allowed to disqualify someone from holding a job in the professions or civil holding a job in the professions or civil service.service.

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