Women and the War Key Stage 4 History

Pre 1914 Before the War women mostly worked in stereotypical roles - as teachers, nurses, and domestic servants, or they stayed at home. Women did not have a lawful right to work and they were not allowed to vote. The Women’s Suffrage movement were campaigning for equal rights for women and engaged in militant action. Some women were imprisoned. Famous suffragettes include Emily, Cristobel, and Sylvia Pankhurst.

Outbreak of War Just two days after the outbreak of War The Suffrage Movement (who had been opposed to the War) published this statement: ‘In the midst of this time of terrible anxiety and grief, it is some little comfort to think that our large organisation, which has been completely built up during past years to promote women’s suffrage, can be used to help our country through the period of strain and sorrow.’ Reasons: On the 10th August the government announced it was releasing all suffragettes from prison. In return, the WSPU agreed to end their militant activities and help the war effort. In her book Christobel Pankhurst wrote: “War was the only course for our country to take. This was national militancy. As Suffragettes we could not be pacifists at any price. Mother and I declared support of our country. We declared an armistice with the Government and suspended militancy for the duration of the war. We offered our service to the country and called upon all members to do likewise… As Mother said, 'What would be the good of a vote without a country to vote in!'…” However, not all women were supportive of this decision: When I read in the newspapers that Mrs. Pankhurst and Christabel were returning to England for a recruiting campaign, I wept. To me this seemed a tragic betrayal of the great movement to bring the mother-half of the race into the councils of the nation… (Sylvia Pankhurst) The impression is given that this and other countries are at war with one another. They are not. Their governments, composed of men and responsible only to the men of each country, and backed by the majority of men who have caught the war and glory fever, have declared war on one another. The women of all these countries have not been consulted as to whether they would have war or not. (Selina Cooper)

Recruitment and Propaganda Women acted as recruiters for the Army - encouraging men to enlist and often branding them ‘cowards’ if they did not. Admiral Fitzgerald founded the Order of the White Feather, which encouraged women to hand a white feather to any young man who had not enlisted. Women were often featured in propaganda posters as things to be ‘protected’. Why do you think posters like these encouraged men to enlist? What do the women in them represent?

Female unemployment rose in the first year of the war, especially among the servants, whose jobs were lost to the middle-classes' wish to save money. Christobel Pankhurst made a series of speeches in favour of the war effort, encouraging young men to join the army and women to play their part, too, by undertaking employment (paid or unpaid) to help the war effort. Initially, active female participation of any kind was frowned upon.

Women march in support of the war effort (July 1915)

July Christobel Pankhurst organised a ‘Right to Work March’. August Munitions of Work Act January Conscription was introduced. How do you think these events increased women’s employment?

The Munitionettes

The Women’s Land Army

FANYs and VADs

Women at the Front In Great Britain women were not allowed to enlist as soldiers and fight. In Russia Maria Bochkareva recruited an army of 2000 women, 250 of which ‘went over the top’. The Russian government saw this as a means of shaming the men into fighting. Many other women experienced the War first hand as medical workers, cooks and office workers in the armed forces.

By the middle of the war women were regarded as a force to be proud of, part of the glory of Britain. By ,600,000 women had joined the workforce. Passage of the Qualification of Women Act of 1917 Representation of the People Act of 1918, which permitted women over 30 to vote and be elected as MPs.

Aftermath After the war many women lost their jobs as priority employment was given to the returning veterans. Hundreds of thousands of men returned from the war injured in some way. Women bore a large part of the burden of caring for these men Women lost their fathers, husbands, lovers, brothers, and sons. For these women, life would never be the same

Review Women played a vital part in the First World War. The history of the First World War runs parallel with important developments in feminism. There is no single image of women in the War, they took on many different roles and had many different views on their standing. By the end of the War women had won the right to vote and had secured the right to work. Although a positive event for women’s rights the War can not be seen as truly emancipating women.