1. © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Interpretation How did war impact on the lives of women?

2. © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Interpretation Objectives In this activity you will: Explore the impact of the war on life for women in Britain.

3. © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Interpretation During World War One, over 6 million men were mobilised, mostly to fight overseas. The war caused many changes in society. Women had to take over many of the jobs previously done by men.

4. © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Interpretation How did war impact on the lives of women? Copy down the grid on the next slide. As you read the next following slides of information, consider the following categories in relation to the lives of women: –Better social –Better economic –Worse social –Worse economic Discuss where on the grid each bullet point should go, and fill it in.

5. © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Interpretation How did war impact on the lives of women? Better social Better economic Worse social Worse economic

6. © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Interpretation How did war impact on the lives of women? Prices rose by around 100%. Wages rose. Women had to work 12 hour days, six days a week. Explosives work was dangerous. Nearly 5 million women were working in industry and commerce. German U-boats sank ships bringing food to Britain. In January 1918, rationing was introduced.

7. © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Interpretation How did war impact on the lives of women? Women often became, in effect, single-parent families. The Home Front was a great social leveller – most people were in the same position. Women over the age of 30 were given the vote in 1918. Women were worried about their men in the armed forces. Leave was very infrequent for soldiers; more frequent for officers. Pub hours were shortened, and beer was made weaker.

8. © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Interpretation How did war impact on the lives of women? Women went out more in the evenings and on their days off. Working with explosives often turned your skin yellow – then you were known as a ‘canary’. Bombing raids were a threat to life. Newspapers were censored. War news was not very truthful.

9. © HarperCollins Publishers 2010 Interpretation How did war impact on the lives of women? In your opinion, how did war impact on the lives of women? What happened to women once the war was over and the men came home?