Women in World War One free essay sample

Although at these times women were only considered useful at the home, caring for their family by cleaning and cooking, the circumstances that followed with World War One gave women an opportunity to prove how they can contribute to society even more so than just caring for their homes. It is undeniable that the War enhanced the industrial revolution of women in Britain to a great extent, from 1914 to 1918 it is estimated that at least 2 million women replaced men in employment, 2 million women who were faced with abrupt yet enchanting alterations to their once dull and repetitive style of living. Men were considered the powerful and masculine figures in society of the early 1900’s. They were able to vote, work, receive education and could easily express their thoughts and opinions. Men had all of the rights that women didn’t have and also intimidated the women in the sense that they ruled in society. We will write a custom essay sample on Women in World War One or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page When World War One began in 1914, those men felt as though to prove that masculine and courageous expectation that was set for them, they were required to serve in the army to protect their alliance, their rights, privileges and their social position. As they had left it was realised that jobs would be abandoned and employment of women to take over the men’s jobs while they were away was the only reasonable decision. Their entrance into the workforce was initially greeted with hostility for the usual sexist reasons and also because male workers worried that womens willingness to work for lower wages would put them out of work. It was also uncertain whether or not the women of Britain would be capable of the drastic responsibilities that followed with their employment. Employers circumvented wartime equal pay regulations by employing several women to replace one man. By doing this, larger groups of women were employed at a lower wage and were not considered to be directly ‘replacing’ the man. Although wages handed to women were still extremely low and vastly unequal compared to men, women still appreciated the chance of independence by working for their own wages and feeling as though they were able to support themselves. Another aspect of why men joined the armed forces was not only because they were expected or assumed to but because they were forced. This was called conscription. The modern form of conscription emerged in the French Revolution, when the government used its power to press able bodied men into military service. Conscription in World War One began in 1916, initially it was thought that this form of enrolment into the army was not necessary; there were plenty of young, willing volunteers at the beginning of the war, as it was thought ‘it would all be over by Christmas’ and it seemed like an exciting adventure. However, as the years went on, more and more people became exposed to the brutal realities of war and became uninterested in enlisting, and in order to replace the casualties and deaths, conscription was brought into action. Freedom for women during the War was extremely restricted, and a lifestyle that didnt involve being almost completely homebound; cooking, cleaning and caring for their family, was extremely rare. When given the employment chances during World War One women would have definitely benefited to extreme lengths. They were shown a whole different perception of life and their surroundings, a sense of freedom as they were able to wake up to a whole different routine where they were in control of their life, earning their own money and knowing that they would be capable of supporting themselves with the skills and knowledge they would have gained during the employment period, even if those wages were at a minimum. The war bestowed two valuable legacies on women. First, it opened up a wider range of occupations to female workers and hastened the collapse of traditional womens employment, particularly domestic service. It was definitely a hope among women in that when the War comes to an end, they would be acknowledged for their contributions and be given further chances to pursue careers outside of the home. Some may assume that a sudden vivid change to the way that women were used to living would have taken long periods of consideration and an initiative hesitation, women had been living these ways almost all of their life, long enough to create a sense of self-doubt and wonder whether or not they were capable or efficient enough to follow through with the job opportunities, and perform to the standards that were required. Women would have felt an immense amount of pressure to measure up to the performance of men in the workplace. To make up for the loss in the skilled workforce the entry of women in factories was often facilitated by dilution, that is to say, the breaking down of complex tasks into simpler activities that non-skilled women workers could easily carry out. There are a wide range of reasons why women also felt like they desired the employment opportunities, social influence played a massive part, contributing to the war time efforts and supporting their nation and alliance by acquiring an important role was obviously thought to be a crucial and appreciated supplement to the potential success in the War. In addition to this was the exciting chance to do something more exciting and varied in comparison to their dismal, patterned home life. Earning wages also played a part in the reasoning behind the decisions to take up the job opportunities. When the war finally came to an end in 1918, women were yet again, given an abrupt lifestyle shock. When the men of Britain eventually returned, the decision to pull women back out of work followed along. Men were re-employed back into their original jobs and women were expected to return to their initial roles of caring for the home, family, cooking and cleaning. Of course, after women were shown a completely different perception of the way their life could be, it would have been very difficult returning to the home after they had been given the chance of freedom and independence. As the main historian of women’s work, Gail Braybon, claims for many women the war was â€Å"a genuinely liberating experience† that made them feel useful as citizens but that also gave them the freedom and the wages only men had enjoyed so far. In general, women did very well, surprising men with their ability to undertake heavy work and with their efficiency. By the middle of the war they were already regarded as a force to be proud of, part of the glory of Britain. In conclusion, World War One effectively gave women a taste of independence and freedom. They were shown a different perspective on the way their life could be, and were given experiences of being part of the workforce, an experience that was thought would never arise. Although women were only used to replace men and then suddenly brought back to reality, the most famous consequence of wider women’s employment and involvement in World War 1, in popular imagination as well as in history books, is the widening enfranchisement of women as a direct result of recognizing their wartime contribution. Women were glad to know that their war time efforts were acknowledged and that they were able to contribute. The war revolutionised the industrial position of women. It found them serfs and left them free. It not only opened opportunities of employment in a number of skilled trades, but, more important even than this, it revolutionised mens minds and their conception of the sort of work of which the ordinary everyday woman was capable. This quote, from one of Britains most prominent suffragists, supports the statements that World War One changed womens lives in Britain.