The Effect of World War I on the Role and Status of Women

The Effect of World War I on the Role and Status of Women

World War 1, In many people's opinion possibly one of the most

influential incidents on the changing role and status of women to this

day. In this essay I will attempt to go through all the major issues

and make a conclusion on weather I think World War 1 Changed the role

and status of women and weather it affects us to this day.

Before the war women were treated with much of a stereotypical

attitude. The "typical" woman was one who stayed in the home, cooked

cleaned and looked after there children. Some women worked…well if u

can call making matches and clothes pegs work and this was only for

the lucky 11%. Many men felt that if a woman did not stay at home and

look after the children they were looked down on by there "friends".

So even if a woman could find an employer willing to hire them outside

of there home many men would not allow it.

Women accepted this as it was how there mothers and there mothers

before that had been treated. There was also a very stereotypical

dress pattern fro women they were expected to wear nothing revealing.

They had to wear high collars, long skirts and girdles. But women did

not complain about this it was considered the norm.

Women were deprived off all sorts of rights before the war. The right

to vote, No legal rights, no right to money children or property and

again this was accepted throughout society. As women did not have any

legal right to there house, children or property they were completely

at the mercy of men as the man could chose to divorce her and she

would be on the streets. If a man committed adultery a women could not

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...eholders rule.

But did getting the vote change opportunities for women? Source 15

shows that since the Eligibility of Women act more and more women have

become MP's so I think that the laws have definitely given women more

opportunities.

But again did the government do anything to improve the lives of

women? Source 16 shows the acts of parliaments introduced during the

first years after the women were given the vote. I think this shows

that women' status has definitely gone up since the start of the war.

So in conclusion I find that The war has been a huge influence on

women' lives to this day without women's war work they would not have

got he vote and without the vote women may still be seen the same way.

So I find that in my opinion the war has definitely influenced every

aspect of women' life to this day.