Sustaining Total War - Women in World War One I THE GREAT WAR

Summary

This special episode of The Great War explores the often-overlooked role of women during World War I. While traditionally seen as homefront supporters, women were pivotal in the war effort, working as nurses, munitions factory workers, spies, and even soldiers. The war catalyzed significant changes in gender roles, with women stepping into jobs typically held by men. Despite the dangerous conditions, such as in munitions factories, these women made immense sacrifices, laying the groundwork for future societal shifts and securing voting rights in many countries. The episode highlights their critical, yet underappreciated contributions to the war effort.

Takeaways

• 😀 Women played an essential role in the First World War, far beyond traditional roles as wives and mothers, contributing significantly to the war effort in various sectors.
• 😀 Many women worked in dangerous and critical industries, such as munitions factories, nursing, and as spies, while others took on roles in agriculture and clerical work.
• 😀 In Britain, 200,000 women worked in government departments, half a million in private clerical positions, and 700,000 in the munitions industry by 1918.
• 😀 Although women contributed greatly to the workforce, they were often paid significantly less than men for similar work, particularly in the munitions industry.
• 😀 The idea of women in combat was controversial, though a few women did enlist, such as Dorothy Lawrence, who disguised herself as a man to join the British Army.
• 😀 Some women did serve in combat, like Flora Sandes, who joined the Serbian Army and was promoted to sergeant major, and Maria Bochkareva, who led the Russian Women's Battalion of Death.
• 😀 Women served in essential roles close to the frontlines, particularly as nurses, ambulance drivers, and in military support positions, with many risking their lives under fire.
• 😀 Women were also instrumental in war propaganda, encouraging men to enlist and supporting the war effort through various campaigns, including the white feather campaign in Britain.
• 😀 The war contributed to significant social changes for women, including more opportunities in the workforce and a push for women's suffrage, with many countries granting women the right to vote after the war.
• 😀 In the postwar period, women experienced greater social and economic options, though traditional gender roles persisted, particularly in the family and domestic sphere.

Q & A

What role did women play in the workforce during the First World War?

Women took on a wide range of roles during the war, including working in munitions factories, clerical positions, agriculture, and government departments. In Britain alone, by 1918, over five million women were employed, with 700,000 working in munitions factories under dangerous conditions.

Why were women working in munitions factories referred to as 'canaries'?

Women working in munitions factories, known as munitionettes, were called 'canaries' because their skin turned yellow due to exposure to poisonous substances like sulfur. Despite the dangerous conditions, they were paid less than men for the same work.

How did the war impact women's role in combat?

Although women were generally excluded from direct combat, some women served as soldiers in foreign armies, such as Flora Sandes in the Serbian Army and Maria Bochkareva in Russia, who formed the all-female 'Russian Women’s Battalion of Death'.

What was the significance of women joining the military during World War I?

Women’s involvement in the military during World War I marked a significant shift in societal expectations. They served in various capacities such as nurses, ambulance drivers, and clerks, with some even engaging in combat or joining military support units, like the Women’s Royal Air Force.

What role did women play in wartime propaganda?

Women were used extensively in wartime propaganda, both as symbols of sacrifice and to pressure men to enlist. Posters often featured women urging men to fight, or shaming those who did not, using slogans like 'Will you go or must I?' and the 'white feather' campaigns.

How did the First World War contribute to women's suffrage?

The war helped advance women’s suffrage, as women proved their worth in the workforce and beyond. In Britain, women over 30 gained the right to vote in 1918, while other countries, such as Germany and Russia, also granted suffrage to women around the same time.

How did women’s social and economic roles change after the war?

Post-war, women gained more social and economic freedoms, with greater opportunities in the workforce and new forms of social interaction. However, traditional expectations about women being primarily mothers and homemakers remained in place for some time.

What was the significance of the Women’s Royal Air Force during the war?

The creation of the Women’s Royal Air Force was a significant step in recognizing women’s roles in the military. Women served as airplane mechanics and in various other support roles, contributing to the war effort in ways that had previously been reserved for men.

How did the employment of women during the war affect traditional family structures?

The war forced many women into the workforce due to the loss of male family members, leading to a complete shift in family structures. Women became breadwinners and took on roles traditionally held by men, which changed societal views on gender roles.

What challenges did women face while working in the munitions industry during World War I?

Women working in the munitions industry faced dangerous conditions, including exposure to toxic chemicals like TNT and sulfur. They worked long hours for lower wages than men and were often viewed as expendable labor despite their critical contributions to the war effort.