1. Era of the Great War
Changing role of women

2. In today’s class I am learning to:
Changing role of women
In today’s class I am learning to:
Describe changes to women’s lives during the era of the Great War
Explain why these changes in women’s lives took place

3. Changing role of women
The early 1900s saw various changes introduced in Britain; women especially saw major reforms in their lives, especially during the Great War.

4. Changing role of women
The most obvious change to women’s lives during the Great War was in the workplace.
Normally women worked as servants or doing jobs like making cloth. Some women did not have a job as their place was believed to be at home.

5. Changing role of women
With men going overseas to fight, women had to work in traditional male jobs, giving them a chance to experience new workplaces.
This included locations on the Home Front but also abroad in places like France and Belgium.

6. Changing role of women
Women were needed to work in factories, to ensure the country kept producing materials during the war.
Others worked in farming and forestry, helping ensure the country had enough food to eat.

7. Changing role of women
Women took over other jobs left vacant by men, such as bus drivers or police officers.
The first female police officer to have the power to arrest people was Edith Smith, who gained this power in

8. Women’s work also helped the war effort.
Changing role of women
Women’s work also helped the war effort.
At home women worked in munitions factories, making weapons for the war. This was dangerous work; some chemicals turned women’s skin yellow, giving them the nickname ‘canaries’.

9. Changing role of women Some women even went abroad to help the fight.
They worked as battlefield nurses or drove ambulances, helping injured soldiers.
Others did non-fighting jobs, such as working as mechanics or cooks.

10. Changing role of women
For many women this gave them a chance to earn a wage – sometimes the first time they had ever done so.
This gave many women a stronger sense of independence as they could choose how to spend their wages.

11. Changing role of women
During the era of the Great War, many women began to get more involved in politics.
They were involved in campaigns to try and win the right to vote, and they also protested about issues including rent levels.

12. Changing role of women
By the end of World War One, some women were allowed to vote in national elections.
Women were also now allowed to stand for election as MPs, and the first woman was elected in 1918 (Constance Markievicz).

13. Women also played a more prominent role in other matters.
Changing role of women
Women also played a more prominent role in other matters.
A national women’s football league was set up, as the men’s league was suspended during the war. Tens of thousands of people watched the top teams.

14. Some men resented women’s new roles and wanted to change this.
Changing role of women
Some men resented women’s new roles and wanted to change this.
When men returned from the war, many women were dismissed from their wartime jobs. Also women’s football was banned in professional grounds.

15. Reasons for the changes
Changing role of women
Reasons for the changes

16. Changing role of women
There were many different reasons that women’s role changed during the war.
One simple point was necessity – the country needed women to fill the jobs and roles of men who had gone abroad to fight in the conflict.

17. Changing role of women
The country needed weapons; with men joining the military it meant women had to help make the weapons.
Also the country required food – if women did not work on the farms then people would soon starve.

18. Changing role of women
Women were also encouraged to go overseas to support the war effort as nurses or military mechanics.
This would then free up more men to be able to fight, making Britain more likely to defeat their enemies.

19. Women’s roles also changed because many women wanted it to happen.
Changing role of women
Women’s roles also changed because many women wanted it to happen.
They were bored with traditional roles where they would not work or travel, and so took the chances that the war offered them.

20. Changing role of women
Women were especially attracted to work by the chance to earn higher wages than normal.
Other women believed that if they did different jobs during the war they might be able to keep them once the fighting came to an end.

21. Women’s political role changed due to the war.
Changing role of women
Women’s political role changed due to the war.
Many people believe some women gained the right to vote in 1918 as a ‘thank you’ for their contribution to the war effort, including encouraging men to join the army.