The Effect of the First World War on Women's Rights
By 1918, when the war had ended, there had been a change of attitude towards women and the right to vote. The Representation of the People Act gave the vote to some women, and before the war, all attempts by the women's movement to get the vote passed through Parliament had failed. Therefore, the work done by women in the war (1914-1918) proved to be very important in bringing about the change of attitudes towards women and allowing some to vote. The work done by women in the war was a short-term reason. Attitudes towards women and giving them the vote had been changing for a long time before this. There had been improvements in career and education opportunities for women and their rights in the family. This indicated a change in attitude and improvement in their status. The women's movement, the Suffragists and Suffragettes, was also successful in keeping the issue in the public eye but had failed to get the vote. Thus, there were many reasons why attitudes were changing, but the work of women in the First World War was probably the main one.
When war broke out in 1914, the Suffragists and Suffragettes stopped their campaigning to concentrate on helping towards the war effort. They 'filled in the gap' left by the men who went out to fight. The women took over jobs that the men did before, and it was this that changed men's view towards female suffrage. There had been a 'revolution in jobs' because women started to do jobs only men had done before. Women had not been considered capable before, and at first, it was strange for women to be having a totally different role. There was a big change in attitude towards women's capabilities, and this was a significant factor in the change of attitudes towards women's rights.
The war had shown that women were capable of doing jobs that were previously thought to be only for men. Women had worked in munitions factories, as nurses, and on the front line. They had shown that they were just as capable as men in society. Women would have probably gained the vote eventually, but it would have taken longer. This was the main reason for the attitude change towards women and their right to vote in 1918, but there were other long-term reasons that gradually brought about this change before 1914. There had been improvements to women's status and role in society, and they were beginning to not be looked on as something more than second-class citizens. There were improvements in the 19th century to women's career opportunities, education, and matrimonial rights. Also, the work of the Suffragists and Suffragettes kept the issue in the public eye and raised awareness. This helped women to get the vote sooner.
Although these women did not live to cast their votes in an election, their hard work did pay off by obtaining women the right to own property and fight for custody of their children in a court of law. In this day women cannot imagine being thrown out of their homes because their husband had died or being forced to leave their children in order to escape an abusive relationship.
women to be able to vote, but they lost the first battle, but that didn't
Later, in World War II, there was another change in women’s rights. During World War I, women were unable to join the military; they were only able to help out as nurses and support staff; however, during World War II, women were able to join the military but were unable to fight in combat missions. In summary, as you can clearly see women’s rights experienced extreme levels of change during the 20th
All in all, American suffragists sacrificed their time and risked their lives just to claim themselves the right that they should be given for long time ago. The Nineteenth Amendment was ratified in 1920 which give American women a voice in politics by voting. Following the ratification was the time of World War II that gave women opportunity to get back to the work force. Men were being sent out to war, women were recruited actively in working forces. Despite the contribution of women to the war, they were still seen as secondary to men. Because of that, the hope for equality in gender in the United States grew even stronger after World War II.
When the war started, women had to take over the jobs of men and they learned to be independent. These women exemplified the beginning of change. Coupled with enfranchisement and the increased popularity of birth control, women experienced a new liberation. When the men returned from the war they found competition from the newly liberated woman who did not want to settle for making a home (Melman 17). This new class of women exercised a freedom that shocked society.
World War II was the largest and most violent armed conflict in the history of mankind.
Pearl Harbor attack by the Japanese Navy was a surprise strike that led to the entrance of United States into World War II. American society was transformed; patriotic men were urged to leave behind their families and enter into the military. The absence of men issued women, the natural caregivers and housewives, to take on workforce responsibilities. World War II gave birth to a new nation forever changing the roles of women in the United States. All women on the homefront were affected by the changes caused by the war. For numerous women, the war was gave them time to gain strength, independence and responsibilities in areas majority of women were oblivious towards. This was the cause for Mrs. Helen Litts and American women; pressures of husbands, fathers, sons, and children abandonment to the war, experienced food and money rationing, blackouts, changes in fashion, and new duties due to the effects of the war.
But as the war came to an end, things had changed and women who had
The role of woman in World War Two was an essential behind the scenes effort. Just as a cameraman is essential to the making of a movie the roles women played in the war was essential to our allied victory. In the war women provided food, clothing, funds, medical work, safety, knowledge and a safe and secure country to return to at the end of the war effort. All the help provided by women gave helped prove gender equality can work in society and helped lead to women's rights in our county.
speeches in 1908 (Source A) that it is vital for women to vote so tat
This was the start of a new age in the history for women. Before the war a woman’s main job was taking care of her household more like a maid, wife and mother. The men thought that women should not have to work and they should be sheltered and protected. Society also did not like the idea of women working and having positions of power in the workforce but all that change...
the lucky 11%. Many men felt that if a woman did not stay at home and
The Great War of 1914 - 1918 was a turning point in the history of
The Effects of World War One on British Women “Without The First World War British Women Would Not Have Gained The
run the home and wear long skirts and not to do things that men did