The Changing Role

and Status of Women

in Britain 1890- 1918

Pre War
Before the outbreak of war in August 1914, women
held very traditional roles in family life. They were
expected to clean, cook and look after children.
Changes
Many working class women were already in
employment, and they mainly held traditional female
jobs in domestic service or in textile factories and
mills.
Many were still tied to the home or continued to
work for very low wages
An emerging womens movement campaigned to

During the War

the role of women change dramatically at the
beginning and during the war .
Changes
There was a huge shortage of workers in industry
and farming as the men who did these jobs were
away fighting. Women felt it was their duty to step
up and fill these roles, dealing with the labour
shortage.
During the War, more opportunities opened up to
women and the types of jobs they undertook
changed.

Types of Jobs During the

Women
began to make war products such as guns
War
and ammunition, taking on jobs operating heavy
machinery and driving vehicles.
The Womens Land Army was formed to ensure food
production continued as so many male agricultural
labourers were in the army.
Women also headed to the War front to cook and to
work in hospitals, treating injured soldiers, while
many nurses continued to help the injured at home.
By 1918 there were 1.3 million more women at work
than in 1914

Whilst women undertook more male jobs, the

significance of their traditional role of wife and
mother was also emphasised.
Women were told they had a patriotic duty to
encourage their men to fight in the war.
Women also helped the men at war to remain
motivated, sending more than 12 million letters and
parcels to the troops every week, and reminding
them about the home and family they would return
to after the War.

Post
War
The end of the War meant that women were
expected to return to their previous roles and allow
the returning soldiers to take back their jobs.
Whilst the number of women in work returned to prewar levels, the War did result in a number of
permanent changes.
A wider range of jobs were now available to women,
such as working in shops, being a telephonist or a
typist. Single women could also become a nurse or a
teacher.
Changes in style and appearance made necessary by
war work - wearing trousers and short hair - became

Were Women Respected

Beginning
of the period:
Between
1890 and 1918?

the number of women who were properly educated

was very low
lower wages than men
separate spheres - women should focus on family
life, and were more hysterical than men
in 1903 the Womens Social and Political Union was
formed - this helped to reinforce the idea of women
being irrational as they did things like smashing
windows

During and after the war:

Attitudes towards women changed during the war,
the suffragist and suffragette campaigns were put on
hold and women began helping the war effort
Women were shown to be more rational than
previously believed and even showed that they were
capable of doing the same jobs as men. This meant
they did not have separate spheres.
Women earned lots of respect, but still werent
perceived to be on the same level as men - they
were payed lower wages for doing the same jobs.
Women were definitely more respected at the end of

Sources

May 1915 poster by E. J.

Kealey, from

1917 poster by Henry

George Gawthorn
advertising for recruitment