How significant were the roles of women left in Australia while the others were in the war?
The role of women in WW1 was vital. They made fresh resources for the soldiers in Gallipoli, volunteered as nurses and other medical staff, they fundraised money to pay for other equipment and services and they participated in a major vote against volunteering men to go to war. Without the women taking the roles the men left behind, the economy would collapse. Businesses would go corrupt and Australia would go into a depression. The women took on the lower roles the companies had to offer, and got paid half as much as the men did but they didn’t complain. In fact, many of the women found it to be a ‘liberating experience’ and felt like useful citizens. They enjoyed the freedom of having wages, something only the men had enjoyed so far.
With thousands of men enlisting to go to war, some still refused to put their lives in danger, so they remained at home. Women were forced to pressure their husbands, sons and other male relatives into going to war. They would have to shun the men who refused to go, and they often used the ‘White feather technique’. This is where they send white feathers, which represent cowardice, to the local men. They also refused to go out with any eligible men who had not volunteered in the war. This put immense pressure on the men to enlist. |
References
ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee (Qld) Incorporated. (n.d.). Women’s role and place. Retrieved November 2012, from anzacday.org.au: http://www.anzacday.org.au/history/ww1/homefront/women.html
Australian Women in World War I. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2012, from http://www.dva.gov.au/commems_oawg/commemorations/education/Documents/DVA_Women_in_War_part2.pdf
Big Black Dog Communications. (2009, August 5). Women in action - nurses and serving women. Retrieved November 2012, from australia.gov.au: http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/women-in-action
Martin, S. (2009, August 22). Women and WWI - Women in the Workforce: Temporary Men. Retrieved November 2012, from firstworldwar.com: http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/womenww1_four.htm
Wilde, R. (n.d.). Women and Work in World War 1. Retrieved November 2012, from About.com: http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/womeninworldwar1/a/womenworkww1.htm
Wilde, R. (n.d.). Women in World War 1. Retrieved November 2012, from About.com: http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/worldwar1/a/ww1women.htm
Australian Women in World War I. (n.d.). Retrieved November 2012, from http://www.dva.gov.au/commems_oawg/commemorations/education/Documents/DVA_Women_in_War_part2.pdf
Big Black Dog Communications. (2009, August 5). Women in action - nurses and serving women. Retrieved November 2012, from australia.gov.au: http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/women-in-action
Martin, S. (2009, August 22). Women and WWI - Women in the Workforce: Temporary Men. Retrieved November 2012, from firstworldwar.com: http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/womenww1_four.htm
Wilde, R. (n.d.). Women and Work in World War 1. Retrieved November 2012, from About.com: http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/womeninworldwar1/a/womenworkww1.htm
Wilde, R. (n.d.). Women in World War 1. Retrieved November 2012, from About.com: http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/worldwar1/a/ww1women.htm