Australian women played a large role in WWII by proving that they were able to do many of the jobs that had been previously assigned only to men. Australian women enjoyed traditional ‘women’s war roles’ (popular in WWI) such as preparing food, knitting, first aid and fundraising for the servicemen. By 1940, many women wanted to assist by doing more. As war proceeded, more than 500,000 Australian women (married and single) worked in industries such as munitions, shipbuilding, and air craft construction. In 1941, Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies toured Britain and realized how much potential women had as a resource of war. When Prime Minister Menzies returned to Australia 250 positions opened in the RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) …show more content…
The WAAAF provided signals and maintenance services to support the RAAF. Between March 1941 and August 1945, 27,000 women joined the WAAAF. Women in the WAAAF learned how to drive trucks and motorcycles, and to operate machinery. They also drove buses, delivered bread, and worked as security guards and meter inspectors. Basically these women did all the work men usually would do, outside of their traditional roles as wives and mothers. Women hoped that these responsibilities would continue after the war, although they were paid much less than men for the same amount of work. The government expected that women were to return to their duties as wives and mothers after the war had ended. These women also worked within the Australian Women’s Land Army, the Red Cross and the National Emergency …show more content…
Members of the AWAS were given 'army jobs' such as driving, maintenance and communications. The women of the AWAS were also properly trained in the case of anyone invading Australia. Women's roles were more restricted in the Navy. At one stage during the war, the Navy fought against accepting women. In April 1941, the Women's Royal Australian Navy Service was formed and by 1942, a total of 3122 women had enlisted in the WRANs. Jobs in the WRANs included cooking, code work, education, interpreting and signals, but no women were allowed to go out to
The early rush of volunteers and later the conscription of men led to a shortage of manpower on the home front. Women, already working in munitions factories were encouraged to take on jobs normally done by men.
In 1941, the RACF formed their first women’s division. This is significant as Canada is recognizing women as citizens of Canada even more. Their jobs include the following, mechanics, clerks, cooks, welders, telephones and operators. However, the women were not allowed in combat but later on in the war, the women in the RACF division flew replacement aircrafts to England.
The women during the war felt an obligation to assist in one form or another. Many stayed at home to watch over the children, while others felt a more direct or indirect approach was necessary. Amongst the most common path women took to support the war, many "served as clerks...filled the ammunition cartridges and artillery shells with powder at armories, laboring at this dangerous and exacting task for low wages. Both sides utilized women in these capacities (Volo 170)." Women that stayed away from battlefields supported their respected armies by taking the jobs that men left behind. They were the grease in the gears of war, the individuals working behind the scenes so that the men would be prepared, ready to fight with functioning weapons and operational gear.
Despite World War II being a tragic conflict that consumed the lives of so many, destroyed homes and livelihoods, and scattered families around the globe, it was ironically beneficial to the role and status of Australian women. Women’s roles in society were dramatically affected during and after the Second World War. This changed society in that it gave women more choices on how to live their lives and men accepted and respected women as equals not only professionally and economically but socially. The significance of these occurrences within Australia becomes present when reviewing and comparing the roles of women before and after WWII.
From here, women's role in World War II had only increased. In 1942, after the allies defeated Japan in the Battle of Midway, the Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Services (WAVES) was created. WAVES was the women's naval service during World War II. Using the word "emergency" implied that using women in the navy was more of a last resort in efforts to progress in the war and they may get rid of WAVES after the war. Reason being because many thought women didn’t have a place in the U.S. Navy and were not qualified simply because they were female. It took a lot of effort to get citizens and officials to agree to this program. Though many conservative officers did not agree with this, the need for women was visible. This can be implied
The organisation grew to every state as Australian women made their input to the war. Their task was to assemble packages for the men who were serving overseas. These packages incorporated of items such as soap, toiletries, food and games. They also supplied clothing and medical supplies to the soldiers. The Red Cross also sent food loads to Australian prisoners of war and provided support to families by establishing a Wounded and Missing Inquiry Bureau. Source 6 is a reliable secondary source as it is a short clip of women at the time preparing linen, serving tea and biscuits to troops, providing relief to soldiers and packing and loading supply bundles. In 1916 the Australian Comforts Fund was established. The fund raised money to provide Comfort Boxes for the soldiers. These contained items such as knitted socks, cigarettes, food and pyjamas. Women were devoted and raised funds by making and selling cakes, organising fates, street stores and door knocking appeals. This allowed them to develop skills in fundraising, organisation and management that they might not have gained otherwise. They also devoted their time in knitting socks for the soldiers in the trenches. According to ‘The changing role of women’ page 233, ‘By late 1918, Australian women had knitted 1354328 pairs of socks for the ACF (Australian Comforts Fund)’. Source 5 is a reliable secondary source that truly reflects a woman's
They play a major part in nursing and cooking for the soldiers. The Australian Army Medical Women's Services (AAMWS) made a vital contribution to the defence of Australia during the Second World War. Australian Army Medical Women's service was established in December 1942. The (AAMWS) grew out of the volunteer Red Cross and St John Ambulance Voluntary Aid Detachments (known as the VADs). Some 8,500 served in both categories during the war and many who served on the home front would later receive a Civilian Service Medal for their individual roles as an Australian VAD member. The woman played major parts in the war, whilst the men were soldiers the women cooked for them as seen in this picture (PD37772.001). Some women helped as nurses in rural towns in Australia and the other women served on the front line in World War 2. The VAD women helped in the war in kitchens and nursing, if it wasn't for their work we wouldn't have got through
During WW2 everyone had to fight, including the women. As a result, the women did many things they had never been able to do. For example, they worked in the shops and factories, they did work at home, and they even fought in the war!
Women went from being stay at home house wives who took care of the children, to playing a crucial role in the economic development of the country. Women were able to fill a various amount of jobs from factory workers to the armed services. “Women made up 36 percent of the labor force in 1945, compared with 24 percent at the beginning of the war” (Henretta, 735). Between the years of 1940-1945, the women work force increased from 37 percent to a total of 64 percent overall (History, 2010). 50 percent of these working women took up jobs in the defense industry. Even though women were not able to fight on the front lines, they still played a significant role in the war by helping to build the B-17 bombers amongst other war related items such as bombs and tanks. Not only did the Rosie the Riveter campaign empower women to become employed, but it also led the way for other women’s groups. With the support of Eleanor Roosevelt as First Lady, the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (later known as the Women’s Army Corps) was founded in May of 1942. The Navy had the same concept when they created the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services (WAVES). There was also a group of women, named Women’s Airforce Service Pilots, who were able to be the, “…first women to fly American military aircraft” (History, 2010). The “We Can Do It” movement paved the way for women in more ways than one. Rosie the
Similarly to Adams argument, Lola Weixel says that at the end of the war, they thought that they were learning a skill that would last them and be useful all over their lives. Women were shocked and hot angry when they found that their job was temporary and they would lose it soon as the war ended. Lola Wexiel also supports Adams point on how people looked at who joined the job during the war. Many people thought that women were only there to meet men and make them happy. In real sense, women were taking it as a serious business and their target was to learn and to contribute to the war effort. Michael Adams differs with Tara Melish’s oral history on areas where women were employed during the war. According to Adam, women were employed as nurses, teachers and bank tellers, which is absolutely different with Lola Weixel where women worked as welders in a machine
When the first World War 1 started, many Australian men – underage or not, volunteered themselves to protect and take pride in their country. The Australian women weren’t allowed into the war, unless they were actively involved as nurses that nursed the injured soldiers, and also if they were involved in other active service duties. Many people recognise the only contribution women had in war were the nursing of the wounded, but nobody truly acknowledges the woman that stayed back in Australia (home front) had a much more stressful and difficult job. These home front women had to deal with the consequences that the war brought; having the strength to manage children and keep everyone together as a family. Not only did they stress enough over the family responsibilities, but also the resource shortages in food and products etc. Most difficulty, the sorrowful women of Australia had to endure the painful fears they had of the future, and the grief and trauma of losing their loved
As Canada entered World War II on September 10, 1939, the rise for women’s participation in the war effort increased significantly. The economic and social change from World War II influenced Canadian women to assume diverse responsibilities to support the Allies. During this time, women employment was temporary and only encouraged throughout the war. However, by assuming the non-traditional roles left behind by many men as they left to fight in the war, Canadian women were major contributors to the war effort. These women challenged the existing social belief of distinct gender roles through the work they accomplished, helping improve women’s rights in the future. This transitional period in history briefly abandoned traditional gender roles,
World War II pushed gender envelopes to the extreme, this time period would empower a large group of disenfranchised people. The role of women in society would forever be changed because of what took place during World War II. Due to conscription, the number of men in the workforce would be diminished so that left room for women to take place and even at times relieve men from their cleric work so they could go fight. Women became a part of the military that would have a long-lasting effect on society. Unfortunately, things wouldn't be the same when the war ended. Forcing women back into traditionally ‘female’ roles after World War II caused them to rebel and start a new wave of activism for social justice.
Those who had no family to rely on needed help with the care of their children. Some corporations offered nurseries in an effort to eliminate problems like absenteeism from a sick child, worker lateness, or early departures to meet family needs. The federal government even offered a limited program of day care centers as part of the New Deal, to assist these mothers. As job opportunities opened up for women it also opened the doorway for women to join the military. More than 250,000 women joined the armed forces as Wacs in the army, as Spars in the navy, and as Wares in the marine corps. In previous wars women were allowed only to be nurses but were now allowed to substitute for men in non-combat jobs. Women were now allowed to work as machinists, store keepers, and office workers, operating radios, and driving jeeps and trucks although many still served the vital role as nurses. With the acceptance into many new positions women still faced a resistance as doctors in the military, until 1943. African American women were still experiencing segregation and had less training and less opportunity than whites with skilled jobs. Blacks were only allowed to tend to African American or
The outbreak of World War one changed the life of women who were mainly tied to the life of domesticity. Women were taught to clean, cook and look after the children. However, as the men were being conscripted for the war, women were starting to play an important role in the following three main areas. Women undertook the jobs that only man did but with the men at war, women stepped up and undertook the predominantly male jobs. Other women took voluntary work as their contribution to the war effort. Another area of importance that women undertook was the grueling and the important work of nursing; often in dangerous war zones.