 L.O: To describe the role of women in the War & to explain the term Conscientious Objectors.  Starter:  Write down a stereotype of a ‘typical’ male job and female job.  EXT: Suggest why that is specific to that gender.

 Before the war, middle-class and upper-class women were seen as ‘fragile ornaments’ to be looked after, their place was in the home, caring for their family.  Most working-class women did work in a factory, minding the spinning or weaving machine. Smart shops in towns sometimes only employed men. Women could only train to become teachers or nurses.

 Women couldn’t vote because it was thought that women were not intelligent enough to use their vote wisely.  The Suffragettes campaigned for the vote and did this through using violence and civil disobedience. When the war broke out Suffragettes gave up their campaign and pledged their full support in the war.

 When war first broke, the government was reluctant to let women do the jobs left vacant by the men who had gone to fight.  To begin with women were only able to serve as nurses, cooks or typists as volunteers with the forces. To keep up production the government was forced to allow women into traditionally ‘male’ jobs like bus drivers, farmers, police officers or munitions workers.

 By 1918, over 900,000 women were working in munitions factories. Munitions work involved the production of shells, weapons and chemicals.  It was dangerous and unhealthy work and the women were nicknamed ‘canaries’ as the chemicals turned the women’s skin yellow.  Many women liked working in the factories as the pay was higher than in old areas of work, like domestic service.

 “I was in domestic service and ‘hated every minute of it’, when war broke out, earning £2 a month working from 6.00am to 9.00pm. So when the need came from women ‘war workers’ my chance came to do meaningful work. One woman’s memoirs of her war work.

 Many men were impressed by the contribution made by women and were forced to change their views.  In 1918 women gained the vote, though they had to be aged 30 or more. Men could vote at age of 21.  The government couldn’t argue against the right of women to vote after their war efforts, but only if they were mature enough to use their vote properly!

 After 1918 many women were forced back into domestic service, now a very low status job, which was less interesting less well paid.  However, 600,000 left voluntarily as they accepted that they just had just been filling in for the men at the front.  By the 1920’s women had more freedoms. Middle- class women got more confident and wanted careers after their wartime experiences challenged traditional ideas.  Some women wore short skirts, smoked in public, drank in pubs and wore short hair to get away from the traditional appearance of femininity, their behaviour shocked many people.

Area of work Number of women employed Munitions (equipment for war) 212,000947,000 Textiles863,000818,000 Clothing612,000526,000 Transport18,000117,000 Commerce505,000934,000 Agriculture190,000228,000 Domestic service1,658,0001,250,000 Local and national government (including teaching) 262,000460,000 What were the largest areas of employment for women in 1911? How does this compare in 1918?

1. What was a female job pre-WW1? 2. Who were the Suffragettes? 3. Write a small paragraph explaining how the war transformed the role of women in Britain. Include:  A political change  An occupational change  A social change

Definitions??

 Some people refused to join the army, even under conscription.  These conscientious objectors were against the war on moral or religious grounds.  Some conscientious objectors agreed to work in hospital or act as stretcher bearers.  Those who refused to go were put in prison.  Conscientious objectors were people who simply did not want to fight in World War One.  Conscientious objectors became known as 'conscies', ‘conchies’ or C.O's and they were a sign that not everybody was as enthusiastic about the war as the government would have liked.

 Battles such as the Somme had cost Britain a vast number of casualties.  By 1916, volunteers to join the British Army were starting to dry up.  In response to this, the government introduced conscription in where the law stated that you had to serve your country in the military for a certain period of time.  A 'conscience clause' was added whereby those who had a "conscientious objection to bearing arms" were freed from military service.

 The 'conscience clause' which allowed people the right to refuse to join up if it went against their beliefs.  Those who claimed to be conscientious objectors had to face a tribunal to argue their case as to why they should not be called up to join the army.

 Some were pacifists who were against war in general.  Some were political objectors who did not consider the government of Germany to be their enemy  Some were religious objectors who believed that war and fighting was against their religion. Groups in this section were the Quakers and Jehovah Witnesses.  A combination of any of the above groups.

 You are going to learn about the 3 types of C.O.’s. Write one sentence explaining each type as you learn about them.

 Some were 'absolutists', opposed to conscription as well as war, upholders of civil liberty and the freedom of the individual - values thought to be respected in Britain.  Absolutists (most of whom were committed pacifists) believed that any alternative service supported the war effort and in effect supported the immoral practice of conscription as well.  The tribunals had the power to give these men complete and unconditional exemption. Absolutist Conscientious Objectors

 Some were 'alternativists', prepared to undertake alternative civilian work not under any military control.  Tribunals had power to exempt them from military service on condition that they actually did this work.

 'Non-combatants' were prepared to accept call- up into the army, but not to be trained to use weapons, or indeed have anything to do with weapons at all.  Tribunals had power to put these men on the military register on this basis. Non-Combatant Conscientious Objectors often became stretcher bearers or medics

 But the tribunals didn't use their powers with much judgement or sympathy.  Not only did they rarely grant unconditional exemption, they also often allocated absolutists or alternativists to non-combatant duties.  In many cases applications were turned down altogether, which meant that the men were liable for call-up as ordinary soldiers.  These unwilling conscripts could be arrested and handed over to the military; if they disobeyed military orders they would be court-martialled and sent to prison.

 How would you treat someone who did not want to join the war?

You’re walking down the street and you see this girl. And you look at her, and she looks at you… So you smile at her and she smiles at you. You saunter over towards her – and she hands you a white feather, saying, “You should be in uniform.” The term “white feather” came from cock-fighting. Some game birds had white feathers in their tail, and so to show the white feather was to turn tail. “Showing the white feather” was a term used for human cowardice throughout the nineteenth century.

 Conscientious objectors were rejected from society, treated and seen as criminals.  In the eyes of their country they failed to contribute and make a difference and were seen to be traitors.  Men were given white feathers by women, this was to make them feel like cowards.  They were ridiculed by the propaganda.

 Imagine that you are a conscientious objector.  You are facing a tribunal that will decide whether you are able to not join up.  Write a short speech (one paragraph) about why you don’t want to join the army and fight.  Think about which type of conscientious objector you are; are you willing to help the war effort in a different way?