Women and the First World War
The Changing Role of Women/ –Women’s lives were changed dramatically as a result of the First World War
–Thousands of women served overseas during the war as nurses, ambulance drivers, workers in clubs and canteens for soldiers on leave, and personnel in army offices.
–Many nurses worked in dangerous field hospitals in France and Britain
–Some nurses lost their lives and some were decorated for bravery and awarded Red Cross Medals
Working in Factories
–The largest role played by women during the war, however was replacing men who had gone overseas in essential jobs in factories, and thousands more worked for the government or worked on farms.
–However, even with the shortage of labour, in the early years of the war, it was still difficult for women to get jobs in factories.
–Many labour unions fought hard against hiring women because they feared that women would take jobs away from men after the war
–When women did get jobs, they were often paid less than half what a man earned doing the same job. /
Women Volunteering for the War Effort
/ –Women also provided the majority of the workers in the volunteer activities that were essential to Canada’s successful war effort.
–In communities across the country, members of the IODE (Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire) and the Women’s Institute collected money, knitted socks, and packaged parcels for soldiers serving overseas.
War and the Suffrage Movement (right to vote)
–The war greatly influenced the struggle started earlier in the century for women’s suffrage
–Women working in factories or as volunteers spent more time together and could share views about their roles.
–Working outside the home also proved to women that they were capable of doing many of the same jobs as men.
–As a result, increasing numbers of women became convinced that they should have an equal share in making political decisions.
–See timeline for the connections between women’s enfranchisement- gaining the right to vote and the First World War.
–By the end of the war, the right to vote in federal as well as in most provincial elections was extended to most women
–Native and Asian women, like Native and Asian men still did not have the right to vote.
Concluding Thoughts
–Women played an invaluable role in keeping the country functioning during the war
–Yet, when the war ended, many of them lost their “non-traditional” jobs.
–They were expected to return to the home, to their traditional roles.
–Women however had experienced what they could do when they were given a chance
–There was no turning back. Following the war, women became increasingly active in social work, teaching and public health.
–Some of them sought careers in medicine, journalism and law
–Many continued to fight for better working conditions, improved housing and equal rights for women.
–The First World War had begun to change fundamentally the roles women played in society.
Comprehension Questions
- Explain in your own words what is meant by the word “enfranchisement”
- Make a list of non-traditional work that women did during the war.
- In your own words explain in what ways the First World War helped women in their struggle to win the right to vote.
- Why do you think relatives of soldiers got the right to vote first?
- In your own words explain in what ways the war changed the lives of women in Canada.