Background:
Women’s role prior to World War One
Before the outbreak of WWI women’s role in western society was restricted to the home and to jobs that were referred to as “Women’s Work.” Some of these jobs included domestic service (housekeeper,) textile manufacturing (sewing,) and teaching. Before 1914 very few countries had given women the right to vote.
Women During the War
WWI being different from the wars that came before it, it relied as much on industrial production as they did on battlefield clashes. It also required large numbers of men as the causality rates were so high. As a result women were asked to do work that fell outside of their traditional roles in society. It is important to note however, that in most cases women were only to work in these “new” jobs for the duration of the war, then they would be returned to the men. A few of the more “popular” jobs that women moved into on the home front were, munitions factories workers, office workers, preparing hampers for soldiers, and workers in aircraft hangars. On the War front Nursing was the only area of direct female contribution. Other women volunteered for organizations like the Red Cross and helped to sale war bonds.
Additional information on the role of women during the war can be found HERE.
Women in Pictures:
The US Navy and Marine posters using Howard Chandler Christy illustrations of women in uniform were designed to recruit men, not women.
Part I
Using the short document provided, your textbooks and your brains reflect on the following question.
1- List the positives and the negatives the war had on women’s role in society and on women’s RIGHTS.
Part II
Using the pictures provided and your brain to answer the following questions on your sheet of paper.
1- What was the purpose of the first three pictures?
2- Why would that method of recruiting have been used?
3- How do you think the changing role of women made the men feel (particularly after the war?)
Twitter Question:
How big of an impact did the war have of the women’s rights movement?
#RsideSS11
Please proceed to Station Six
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