The role of women changed dramatically as a result of the First World War as they found themselves taking on the roles that had traditionally been done by men such as ,driving , shop work , farming ,the police and in the munitions factories. Work in the munitions factories was dangerous working with TNT, which turned their skin yellow and made their hair fall out, they became known as "canaries" because of the colour of their skin.
Although women were forced into these occupations- it also opened up opportunities for them, it could even be said that the War changed the lives of women for the better, leaving them far more equal and with greater democracy. Following the War some women got the vote, those over 30 years of age who held property.
200,000 women took up jobs in government departments,
500,000 women took up positions in offices
700,000 worked in industry - which was dangerous work.
Life on the "homefront" for women was hard not only because of the changing work roles but they also had to face the fear that there loved ones may not return, fathers, husbands, sons. A famous women poet of the time Evelyn Underhill wrote "theirs be the hard bed, but ours the lonely bed"
As whole villages of men were lost to the war this left a shortage of men and it was said that only 1 in 10 women would marry, there was even the suggestion that women were to be sent to Australia or Canada to find a husband.
In 1915 there was "The Right to Serve March" organised by the Suffragettes which was paid for by the Government, women wanted to be playing their part in the war effort.
Although women were forced into these occupations- it also opened up opportunities for them, it could even be said that the War changed the lives of women for the better, leaving them far more equal and with greater democracy. Following the War some women got the vote, those over 30 years of age who held property.
200,000 women took up jobs in government departments,
500,000 women took up positions in offices
700,000 worked in industry - which was dangerous work.
Life on the "homefront" for women was hard not only because of the changing work roles but they also had to face the fear that there loved ones may not return, fathers, husbands, sons. A famous women poet of the time Evelyn Underhill wrote "theirs be the hard bed, but ours the lonely bed"
As whole villages of men were lost to the war this left a shortage of men and it was said that only 1 in 10 women would marry, there was even the suggestion that women were to be sent to Australia or Canada to find a husband.
In 1915 there was "The Right to Serve March" organised by the Suffragettes which was paid for by the Government, women wanted to be playing their part in the war effort.