​WAS THE FIRST WORLD WAR A TURNING POINT FOR WOMEN?

1. What was life like for women before the First World War?

• Before exploring the things that women did during the First World War you will need to know what life was like before 1914.

2. To what extent was the First World War a positve and beneficial experience for women?

• This 7 minute BBC History video gives a quick overview of the ways the war impacted women
• Now gather more information about women and the war using the information here (your teacher may give you one of each slide to look at for a minute and pass on):

 

• Note down in one column the experiences that would been positive and beneficial
• Note down in another column any negative experiences or evidence that the benefits didn't last
• Put the following things on a 'Progress continuum' that goes from '0' (things that brought no progress for women) to '5' (things that brought lasting progress for women
  1. Working in Munition factories
  2. Football teams
  3. New job opportunities e.g. Police officers, bus conductors, coal mines
  4. Military positions
  5. Representation of the people Act
  6. Changing fashions

3. To what extent did the war change women's lives?

• Read the following views about the impact of the war on women's lives.
  • What positive aspects do they highlight?
  • Which one is most positive?
  • What negative things are mentioned?

WW1 historian, Prof. Margaret MacMillanThe war changed women’s lives, and in some ways for the better. They showed society that they were able to do men’s jobs and were intellectually more than capable of taking part in society. However, those gains could not be completely consolidated after the war was over; many women were forced from their jobs once the men returned and expected to go back into domestic life. Many women had earned the right to vote, but such things as going to university or standing as MPs were still overwhelmingly the preserve of men.

War historian, Dr. Jonathan Boff One of the biggest improvements in the lives of women during the First World War was in the area of health. Women lived longer and healthier lives after the war and lost fewer children in infancy. During and after the war infant mortality was reduced by two thirds. The explanations are complex, but better living standards and nutrition are a large part of the answer. Smaller households and earnings rising faster than food prices meant there was more food to go around. Housewives shopped more carefully. And government policy, such as rationing and restrictions on pubs, may also have helped.

Suffragette expert, Elizabeth Crawford At the end of World War One, women’s lives were revolutionised by the 1918 Representation of the People Act. While men were granted the vote at 21, the suffragists pragmatically settled for a lesser measure for women, knowing that, as voters, they could exercise direct influence on parliament.

WW1 historian, Dr. Krisztina Robert At first glance progress [after the war] seems limited. Nevertheless, women's extensive war participation helped convince politicians and the public about their suitability for citizenship, leading to full enfranchisement in 1928. Furthermore, many women developed new skills, self-confidence and contacts in their war jobs and were able to capitalise on these gains after the war in terms of greater freedoms both at work and in personal relationships.
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• This is a more extensive article by Professor Joanna Burke published on the BBC website: Women on the home front in World War One
• Now do your own research. Can you find answers to the following questions:
  • Did percentage of women were working after the war?
  • Did they carry on in the same types of jobs they did during the war?
  • Were there other new job opportunities after the war?
  • Did expectations regarding women's behvaiour change after the war?
  • Did more women enter politics?