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Was the First World War a ‘Total war’ for Britain?
Christian organisations. Although women were not allowed to go to the front until 1918, the ‘Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps’ was set up in February 1917, aimed to send women out to replace men in army bases, home and away.
Many women who had a job did not work in factories as they were seen as dangerous and women were expected to stay at home, they were believed to have a special ability in making the home feel homely. Those who did work were in the middle classes and worked as nurses, primary teachers, and social work. The war saw a break down of these barriers that women worked behind and they started working in all aspects of employment. The lower classes who were told the best work for them was domestic service, which protected them from the dangers of factory work like sex and drink, took up roles in factories, mainly munitions. These munitions factories were not good for their health as poorly made bombs were leaking toxic gases, these gases were turning their skins orange and hair ginger but against all odds women felt they had to continue to help their country.
The number of women working in these factories rose by 145% between 1914 and 1916. Four years later, by 1918, this had risen to 333% compared with the beginning of the war.
As women started working many things changed for them. Women started doing all the things that men might have done, go to pubs, restaurants, dances and theatre. Hair and skirts got shorter as a result of factory work these things were seen to make working harder. As women took over the running of the country many other things changed. Women were allowed into the police force and they had their very own police service. This service would supervise goings on at music halls, cinemas, railway stations and parks.
There were still class barriers even when women were involved. Some towns would not allow women ‘of a certain class’ to go out between 7pm and 8am.
The women’s role in the war was very significant but they had a lot of trouble trying to help. Male trade unions were worried that if women took the jobs of men the men would not be able to get them back when they returned from the war. As a result of this many employers, and the government agreed with the trade unions that all jobs should be returned. This clearly proves that women were in the war effort to help, as they had no chance of keeping their job after the war.