The Effects of World War One on British Women “Without The First World War British Women Would Not Have Gained The
Right To Vote In 1918”
I disagree with the statement that, if it were not for the War, women
would never have gained the right to vote.
Between 1900 and 1914 the many Female movements applied a vast amount
of pressure on the Government. Making British women’s suffrage
inevitability rather than a possibility. The reason why they did
achieve the vote in 1918 was not because of the Suffragette or
Suffragist movements, neither was it solely because of the female
involvement in the War. Rather that it is unjustifiable to not allow
someone mentally capable a say in politics, when politics affects
their way of life.
Many who argued against women being allowed suffrage were
Politicians, for example Source C: An argument against votes for
women, from a speech made in 1912 by Lord Curzon, a Conservative
leader. “Women do not have the experience to be able to vote. But
there are other problems as well: the way women have been educated,
their lack of strength, and the duties they have. If women did gain
the vote, it would mean that most voters would be women. What would be
the effects of this on the Government?” These were the general lines
of argument that opposing members of Female suffrage used. If
anything, politicians feared the possible imp...
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...ting the
vote.
Society’s attitudes were changing on the status of women in Britain
and continentally since it pioneered in the 1860’s with the work of
Caroline Norton. As democracy and justice, the morals on which our
country was based and is still based were becoming clearly evident in
other cases in the nation. So eventually women would obtain the right
to vote. It was not though women’s brave patriotic war service that
they gained the right to vote in 1918; it was the gradual evolution of
modern society’s way of thought. The belief that we are all equal, and
must be treated as equals. As women’s as well as other once lesser
people have obtained equal rights universally. In a strive to cut out
sexism and racism as we can now see it’s unfair effects. As we strive
to put equality in to practice not just speech.
The First World War presented European women with ample opportunity to step up and demonstrate their strength; however men of this era had conflicting opinions of how capable women were to take on a man’s occupation. Therefore, it was necessary for women to prove their abilities and destroy the widespread belief of their stupidity and ignorance. To begin, it was during this era of World War 1 and directly after this that women were able to prove themselves as vital members of the economy and society of Europe. In Document 1, a picture depicts the harsh patriarchal society that women were forced to change by showing a woman being ignored by a man. The purpose of this photo of a female figure arguing that women were strong enough to save men
American women in World War II brought significant changes which although people expectation that life would go back to normal they modify their lifestyle making women free of society pressure and norms, because the war changed the traditional way to see a woman and their roles leading to a new society where women were allowed to study and work in the same way than men. Creating a legacy with the principles of today’s society.
is only a snapshot of one moment in history. It does not tell us about
.... The wages of women started to go up. The armed forces started to employ women as drivers, cooks, storekeepers, clerks, telephone operators and administration. It was soon recognised women were more than competent in a range of tasks, including the management of farms and businesses.
Many women during WWII experienced things that they had never done before. Before the war began women were supposed to be “perfect”. The house always had to be clean, dinner ready on the table, laundry done, and have themselves as well as their children ready for every event of the day. Once the war began and men were drafted, women had to take on the men’s role as well as their own. Women now fixed cars, worked in factories, played baseball, handled the finances, and so forth. So, what challenges and opportunities did women face on the home front during WWII? Women had many opportunities like playing baseball and working, they also faced many hardships, such as not having enough food, money, and clothing.
World War Two was the period where women came out of their shells and was finally recognized of what they’re capable of doing. Unlike World War One, men weren’t the only ones who were shined upon. Women played many significant roles in the war which contributed to the allied victory in World War Two. They contributed to the war in many different ways; some found themselves in the heat of the battle, and or at the home front either in the industries or at homes to help with the war effort as a woman.
World War II opened a new chapter in the lives of Depression-weary Americans. The United States of America had an unusual importance in the war, it had been spared the physical destruction that had taken place throughout the world. Americans on the home front did not see the fighting and brutality as other countries experienced it. However, the events and changes on the home front due to the World War transformed America. One of the greatest conversions was that of the American woman. Women around the country were transformed from the average house wife into a person with a voice and most importantly a purpose.
War is often followed by change; World War I is no exception. World War I is often labeled the cause for the rise of a feminine revolution-“the flapper”. Before the term “flapper” began to describe the “young independently-minded woman of the early Twenties” (Mowry 173), the definition that is most prominent today, it had a 300-year long history. The young woman of the 1920’s was new and rebellious. In her appearance and demeanor, she broke the social constructs of her society.
In World War 1, British women broke through traditional roles and worked as nurses on
World War I is remembered as a soldier's conflict for the six million men who
Most women in Canada before World War One (WWI) were treated poorly compared to the men. Women were dehumanized and were not looked as any worth or value. During WW1 women’s roles in Canada changes to a great extent. The war influence change in the work force and politics. Women had to take on jobs of the men who went to war to keep the established economic system running. In 1911 before the war 16.6% of the female population of 2,521,000 participated in the labour force. During the war in 1921 the participation rate increased from 418,486 female workers to 563,578. War changed their roles greatly as before women were housewives, they would raise the children and do household chores. Now during the war they were needed as men went overseas
When the war began men had to leave their families and jobs behind. World War I was a complete war because all of the world’s assets had to be used and the entire nation’s population was involved. Anyone that had the ability to work had to work. The women had to take up jobs and went through a lot changes in order to support their families during the war. World War I gave women with the chance to have a significant part in the victory of the war which had an impact them and changed the lives of all women forever.
Women's Suffrage and World War I In my opinion British women would not have gained the right to vote in 1918 without the First World War. In my research to substantiate my view, I obtained my information from my history book and the Internet I will state the source of my information and explain how the information links to the causes and effects that enabled women to get the vote. During the war, women were given responsibility and knowledge to carry out skilled work.
World War 1 was a time filled with trauma, despair, and hardships. Women had limited freedoms such as being able to vote, being confined at home, and having less than half of the rights men were able to have.
World War 1 had a massive effect on women in society. Their lives drastically changed in a short amount of time. In fact with this change came plenty of responsibility, and a great deal of both physically and psychologically demanding work. This responsibility is what made women more confident and self-satisfied, which later on led them to fight harder for their rights.