World War I was a turning point in history, not just for nations and armies, but for women as well. The Great War changed women’s roles significantly, pushing them out of their traditional spheres and into new territories. This blog post explores how women’s lives transformed during this tumultuous period, from the home front to the factory floor.
The Pre-War Landscape: Limited Opportunities
Before we discuss the changes, let’s briefly examine what life was like for women before the war broke out in 1914.
A World of Restrictions
Women’s opportunities were severely limited in the years leading up to World War I. Most jobs open to women were poorly paid and unskilled. In Britain, for example:
- 1.5 million women worked in domestic service
- Another 1.5 million worked in textiles and clothing industries
- Women made up less than a quarter of the workforce in Britain, Germany, Australia, and even America
Men largely dominated the working world. Trade unions opposed women taking men’s jobs, and many employers believed women were weak and incapable of technical work.
The Call to Arms: A Nation’s Need
When war broke out in 1914, everything changed. Massive numbers of men were called to the front lines, leaving gaps in the workforce that needed to be filled.
Women Answer the Call
Despite initial skepticism from factory owners, women were eager to help the war effort. They saw it as their chance to do their duty and participate in a great national enterprise.
In Britain, the response was overwhelming:
- Within two years, almost half the jobs were being done by women
- The number of women working in government munitions factories skyrocketed from 300 in 1914 to 216,000 by 1918
- At the Woolwich Arsenal alone, 28,000 women were employed
- In National Shell Factories, women made up over 75% of the workforce and produced 80% of the shells fired by the British army
From Home to Factory: The New Female Workforce
The war opened up many new job opportunities for women, many of which were previously considered “men’s work.”
Diverse Industries, Diverse Roles
Women found themselves working in various industries:
- 31,000 in shipbuilding
- 39,000 in iron and steel mills
- Roles included lathe turners, mechanics, coal heavers, and navvies
- 3 million were working in industry by 1918
- Another 1.5 million in commerce and service industries
Transportation and Public Services
Women also began to take on roles in transportation and public services:
- Working on buses and railways as engineers, drivers, and ticket collectors
- The first women police officers were recruited
- The number of women working in banking increased by 7,180%
- Employment in the civil service increased 20 times to 107,000
International Impact
This trend wasn’t limited to Britain. Women also poured into offices and factories in France and Germany. Even in America, far from the front lines, over 10,000 women were employed to make gas masks.
The Price of Progress: Challenges and Hardships
While these new opportunities brought a sense of independence and freedom, they also came with significant challenges.
Dangerous Work Conditions
Working in munitions factories was particularly hazardous:
- The work was brutal, dirty, and unhealthy
- Safety standards were often ignored to meet production targets
- TNT turned women’s skin yellow, earning them the nickname “canaries”
- Many died from accidents and poisoning
- In one incident, 134 women were killed in a single explosion at the Chilwell ammunition factory
Unfair Treatment
Despite their crucial contributions, women faced discrimination:
- They were often forced to work 12-hour shifts
- Many received only half the pay that men did for the same work
- When the war ended, many women lost their jobs to make way for returning soldiers
Beyond the Factory: Social and Political Changes
The war’s impact on women’s roles extended far beyond the workplace, affecting social norms and political rights.
The Suffrage Movement
The war gave new momentum to the women’s suffrage movement:
- Suffragettes in Britain suspended their campaign for votes to focus on demanding women’s right to serve in the war effort
- After the war, women over 30 were allowed to vote, making up almost half the electorate due to the high number of men killed in the war
Changing Social Norms
The war challenged traditional ideas about women’s capabilities and roles:
- Women proved they could handle physically demanding and technically complex jobs
- Their contributions to the war effort were widely recognized
- The experience of independence and freedom during the war was “thrilling” for many women
State Control and Social Restrictions
While women gained new freedoms in some areas, the war also brought increased government control over people’s lives.
The Defense of the Realm Act (DORA)
In Britain, the government passed DORA, which gave the state unprecedented powers to intervene in people’s private lives:
- Breweries and pubs were nationalized in some areas
- Pub opening times were cut to just 5.5 hours a day
- Buying rounds of drinks became illegal
Alcohol Restrictions
Alcohol consumption was seen as a threat to worker productivity, especially among women:
- These restrictions particularly targeted women munitions workers
- Similar prohibition rules were introduced across Europe, even in vodka-loving Russia
The Russian Revolution: Women as Catalysts for Change
In Russia, women played a crucial role in sparking the revolution that would end centuries of Tsarist rule.
The Bread Riots
In February 1917, women factory workers in Petrograd, many of them soldiers’ wives, initiated protests that would change the course of history:
- 150,000 workers went on strike and rioted
- They were protesting food shortages and bread prices that had increased 400% since the start of the war
- A quarter of a million workers joined the women’s protest
The Fall of the Tsar
The women’s protests set off a chain of events that led to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II:
- Soldiers refused to fire on the protesters
- Up to 880,000 troops mutinied
- The Tsar was forced to abdicate, ending four centuries of Tsarist rule
A New Dawn: The Post-War World
As the war ended, the world that emerged was vastly different from the one that had existed in 1914.
Economic Challenges
The post-war period brought economic difficulties:
- Many women lost their jobs as men returned from the front
- There was a significant emigration from Britain, with 1.5 million people leaving during the 1920s
Political Gains
Despite the setbacks, women had made significant political gains:
- Women over 30 gained the right to vote in Britain
- The role of women in the war effort made it impossible to “put them back in their box”
A Changed Society
Both women and the working classes began to push back against the old order:
- Labor movements gained traction
- Women’s experiences during the war had proven their capabilities
- The old world order was slowly starting to break down
The Legacy of Change: A New Chapter for Women
World War I marked a turning point in women’s history. Women’s roles and rights underwent significant transformations from the factory floor to the voting booth. While many challenges remained, the war had proven that women were capable of far more than society had previously allowed.
The changes brought about by the war were not easily reversed. Women had tasted independence and proven their worth in crucial industries. They had shown they could handle physically demanding jobs, contribute to the war effort, and even spark revolutions.
As the world moved into the post-war era, it was clear that women’s roles would never be quite the same again. The corsets had been loosened, and women had shown they could build battleships. The stage was set for further advancements in women’s rights and roles in society, a process that would continue throughout the 20th century and beyond.
