Quick Quiz 1.What were two weaknesses in the 1920s American economy? 2.How was life for women still unequal in 1920s America? 3.What showed that the New Deal didn’t work? 4.Why did the Potsdam Conference worsen USSR-USA relations? 5.Why did Stalin blockade Berlin? 6.What happened in Czechoslovakia in 1948? 7.What was the radio station called in the North Sea? 8.What reforms were made to education in the 1960s?

WOMEN

How did WWII affect women? C aim – to explain the positive and negative ways WWII affected women B aim – to analyse how positively WWII affected women A/A* aim – to analyse whether WWII marked a permanent shift in the treatment of women Why was this source published? (9)

If we are assessing a change we need to consider what life was like for women before WWII to work out if it has changed... Life changed significantly for women during WWII Life didn’t change significantly for women during WWII

When war broke out, the Government wasted little time in getting women to work – they had played a key role in WW1. All women over the age of 20 had to sign up (unless they were ill, pregnant or had small children) and they filled key roles in industrial production and the auxiliary armed forces. By % of married women and 90% of single women were working – a huge amount. Mobilisation was so quick and vast that unlike WW1, the novelty of women in traditional men’s work soon wore off. They were readily accepted and Trade Unions were eager for them to join. They also played an important role in the war effort completing jobs such as air raid wardens, etc. Women were often at great danger at work during WWII. There were regular accidental explosions in munitions factories and some were poisoned by the chemicals that they used.

Add to your diagram whilst watching the video.

Skim and scan pp to add further detail. Life changed significantly for women during WWII Life didn’t change significantly for women during WWII

How do you think Miss Paxman’s granny felt about getting involved in the war effort? What do you think her daily life was like during the war?

C – What positive and negative ways did WWII affect women? B – How positively did WWII affect women? A/A* - Did WWII mark a permanent shift in the way that women were treated in Britain?

Does the below source suggest that women were happy in their war work? Muriel Simkin worked in a munitions factory in Dagenham during the Second World War. We had to wait until the second alarm before we were allowed to go to the shelter. The first bell was a warning they were coming. The second was when they were overhead. They did not want any time wasted. The planes might have gone straight past and the factory would have stopped for nothing. Sometimes the Germans would drop their bombs before the second bell went. On one occasion a bomb hit the factory before we were given permission to go to the shelter. The paint department went up. I saw several people flying through the air and I just ran home. I was suffering from shock. I was suspended for six weeks without pay. They would have been saved if they had been allowed to go after the first alarm. It was a terrible job but we had no option. We all had to do war work. We were risking our lives in the same way as the soldiers were.

Does my granny’s story prove that Muriel Simkin was wrong? Muriel Simkin “It was a terrible job but we had no option. We all had to do war work. We were risking our lives in the same way as the soldiers were.” NO! We must remember the diversity of experience!

Did WWII cause life to change for women into the 1940s and 1950s? C aim – to explain the ways it did and didn’t cause change B aim – to assess whether it did cause an overall change A/A* aim – to assess whether WWII caused a permanent and significant change Before WWII 10% of married women worker, during WWII 80% of married women worked, and in % of married women worked. When WWII ended many women were forced to leave their jobs to free them up again for the returning men. The government needed women to help rebuild Britain and establish the welfare state. Many young women felt that they wanted to build a traditional family and many women’s magazines focused on this. In response to this the Government encouraged flexible working – many employers were willing to take on part time staff, nurseries were built, laundries installed in factories, schools opened longer – anything to encourage women to take important jobs.

Attitudes of women Confidence grew as experiences changed. Many women were given the opportunity to travel and socialise, sex outside of marriage became more popular as did extra martial affairs and the divorce rate. Their expectations changed – they expected to be equals of man and not inferiors.

Britain was becoming more prosperous, so women were getting more prosperous too. Britain needed more workers which meant women could work if they wished to. The amount of women working increased from the 1940s into the 1950s. Many employers liked employing women as they didn’t have to pay them as much. Some campaigning groups were working for equal pay for women in some industries, the government agreed to equal pay in the public sector (those employed by the government, e.g. Teachers) in 1955 Women had more technology at home so they could save time on domestic chores Was life good for women in the 1950s?

When women went to work they were often resented by their male colleagues. They found it hard to get promotions and generally had junior roles. It was expected that when you got married you would give up work. Equal pay had only been achieved in a minority of industries As technology decreased the time spent on domestic chores women did more of them. Some had to work hard at home and at work. Most women felt their marriages were based on unequal partnerships. Was life good for women in the 1950s?

The Cult of Domesticity Usually from adverts. Presented an idealised version of 1950s family life and promoted the nuclear family.

How reliable is this source? Include the cult of domesticity in your answer.

Based on what we have learnt so far, what discrimination did women experience in the 1940s to the 1950s? If you are stuck find some on pp

Write down what a perfect girlfriend may be like. Write down what a perfect boyfriend would be like. What are the differences? How would women feel about this?

What is feminism? What do they want to do? Is there a need for it?

Exam feedback Cold War/America mock result: Britain mock result: Overall result: To improve I need to: Pick one! Work more quickly and use all of the time in the exam so that I can answer all the questions. Spend half an hour a week revising Cold War and America so that I have better knowledge for that exam.

Homework. Due Tuesday 27 th January - How far does source C prove source B wrong? (9) Source C Source B

Collect in Life completely changed for young people in the 1960s compared to the 1950s. How far do you agree? (10)