In World War I and World War II the role of women on the home front evolved. Before war, the majority of women were homemakers, with only a small handful working traditional female roles such as teaching, nursing, dressmaking and domestic work. The contribution of Australian women in World War I and World War II is closely linked to their role in society at different times, and the nature of each war. Many women were encouraged to support the war by joining voluntary organisations. Women on the home front had to deal with the outcome of war such as managing children and family responsibilities without their husbands, shortages of resources and the sorrow and pain of losing their loved ones in battle. I believe the quote; ‘Australian feminism,
…show more content…
Around the time of World War 1, it was uncommon for women to have a job. The only women who really had a job were the ones doing domestic serving roles with very low pay. During this time the main role of women was to manage the home and raise children. Women were pushed towards helping the war effort by joining voluntary organisations such as; Australian Red Cross, the Country Women's Association, the Women's Christian Temperance Union, the Australian Women's National League, the Voluntary Aid Detachment, the Australian Comforts Fund and the Cheer-Up Society. At the start of World War II, Australian women were encouraged into taking very similar roles that they had previously done in World War I. Knitting and sewing, packing parcels, raising money, encouraging people to enlistment and looking after their home was what the women were once again expected to …show more content…
During World War I, with over 300 000 men fighting war overseas, women wanted to do something to support the war effort at home. Women in Britain and Germany moved into factory work in large numbers, but Australian women took up jobs in banks and offices that males had previously occupied. In 1942, the role of home front women changed incredibly as more men entered the army, so the women had to fill in for them. Women who were working a ‘man’s job’, didn’t have a permanent position, once the men returned from war they would have to resign. Women were paid lower rates compared to what the men would usually be paid. Unlike this Women in World War II, from late 1940’s and onwards were encouraged to join the services. Many of these women served as nurses in one of the branches of the army forces. Majority of them joined auxiliary services such as Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF), the Australian Women’s Army Service (AWAS) and the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS). The women involved in these services were trained in home-front tasks, so that servicemen were able to go join the overseas fighting. Around 7 percent of the whole war force was now made up of women. Although this was a great step up, women were still not allowed to serve outside Australia or endure combat roles. Some of the women served in ‘men’s
Around the time of World War 1, it was uncommon for women to have a job. The only women who really had a job were the ones doing domestic serving roles with very low pay. During this time the main role of women was to manage the home and raise children. Women were pushed towards helping the war effort by joining voluntary organisations such as; Australian Red Cross, the Country Women's Association, the Women's Christian Temperance Union, the Australian Women's National League, the Voluntary Aid Detachment, the Australian Comforts Fund and the Cheer-Up Society. At the start of World War II, Australian women were encouraged into taking very similar roles that they had previously done in World War I. Knitting and sewing, packing parcels, raising money, encouraging people to enlistment and looking after their home was what the women were once again expected to …show more content…
During World War I, with over 300 000 men fighting war overseas, women wanted to do something to support the war effort at home. Women in Britain and Germany moved into factory work in large numbers, but Australian women took up jobs in banks and offices that males had previously occupied. In 1942, the role of home front women changed incredibly as more men entered the army, so the women had to fill in for them. Women who were working a ‘man’s job’, didn’t have a permanent position, once the men returned from war they would have to resign. Women were paid lower rates compared to what the men would usually be paid. Unlike this Women in World War II, from late 1940’s and onwards were encouraged to join the services. Many of these women served as nurses in one of the branches of the army forces. Majority of them joined auxiliary services such as Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF), the Australian Women’s Army Service (AWAS) and the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS). The women involved in these services were trained in home-front tasks, so that servicemen were able to go join the overseas fighting. Around 7 percent of the whole war force was now made up of women. Although this was a great step up, women were still not allowed to serve outside Australia or endure combat roles. Some of the women served in ‘men’s