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Women and WW1Women and WW1

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What will I learn?What will I learn?

What is meant by the reward What is meant by the reward theory.theory.

The work carried out by women The work carried out by women during WW1.during WW1.

Arguments for and against the Arguments for and against the reward theory.reward theory.

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Reward Theory: Historian Reward Theory: Historian Arthur MarwickArthur Marwick

Marwick argues that women still did Marwick argues that women still did not have the vote by 1914 and in not have the vote by 1914 and in fact the last Conciliation Bill 1912 – fact the last Conciliation Bill 1912 – 208 voted for and 222 MPs against 208 voted for and 222 MPs against women’s suffrage.women’s suffrage.

Yet by 1917 – 387 voted for and 57 Yet by 1917 – 387 voted for and 57 against.against.

Marwick states that something Marwick states that something dramatic must have changed dramatic must have changed politician’s minds.politician’s minds.

Was the vote Was the vote purelypurely a reward for a reward for women’s war work?women’s war work?

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Suffrage SocietiesSuffrage Societies

Both NUWSS & WSPU Patriotic- Both NUWSS & WSPU Patriotic- supported the war effort.supported the war effort.

Pankhursts called off militant Pankhursts called off militant campaign.campaign.

WSPU organised a pro-war rally in WSPU organised a pro-war rally in 1915 attended by 30,000 women 1915 attended by 30,000 women which demanded “The Women’s which demanded “The Women’s right to serve”right to serve”

WSPU “white feather” campaign.WSPU “white feather” campaign.

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War WorkWar Work

Women found themselves undertaking all Women found themselves undertaking all kinds of work, some unfamiliar, much of kinds of work, some unfamiliar, much of it dangerous or physically demanding.it dangerous or physically demanding.

Munitions 1917 = 819,000 female Munitions 1917 = 819,000 female workers.workers.

Nursing 1917 = 45,000 female workers.Nursing 1917 = 45,000 female workers. Transport 1915 =117,000 “ “Transport 1915 =117,000 “ “ Example of dangers in munitions = Example of dangers in munitions =

explosion at Silvertown factory in East explosion at Silvertown factory in East London killed hundreds.London killed hundreds.

Toxic Jaundice/canaries.Toxic Jaundice/canaries.

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Click on images to view video Click on images to view video clipsclips

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Analysis - Changing Analysis - Changing AttitudesAttitudes

Women – work gave them the taste of freedom, Women – work gave them the taste of freedom, better wages, more interesting jobs, promotion better wages, more interesting jobs, promotion and responsibility. Many women would no longer and responsibility. Many women would no longer put up with their old pre-war lifestyle and put up with their old pre-war lifestyle and discrimination. In turn, women would want the discrimination. In turn, women would want the vote to ensure their position in society improved.vote to ensure their position in society improved.

Marwick argues men working beside women and Marwick argues men working beside women and observing their hard work and responsible observing their hard work and responsible attitudes fostered a new respect for them. Women attitudes fostered a new respect for them. Women now appeared more deserving of the right to vote.now appeared more deserving of the right to vote.

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Changing Attitudes Changing Attitudes continuedcontinued

Newspapers called women workers Newspapers called women workers “heroines”.“heroines”.

““The Nation Thanks The Women” posters The Nation Thanks The Women” posters went up all over Britainwent up all over Britain

Politicians – before the war many argued Politicians – before the war many argued that women like the suffragettes could not that women like the suffragettes could not be trusted, but some such as former Prime be trusted, but some such as former Prime Minister Asquith changed their minds Minister Asquith changed their minds because of war work or more likely the because of war work or more likely the changing mood of the public towards changing mood of the public towards women.women.

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Representation of the Representation of the People Act 1918People Act 1918

Parliament knew it would have to allow Parliament knew it would have to allow young men who had fought on the young men who had fought on the Western Front the right to vote. The act Western Front the right to vote. The act passed easily with a large majority of 387 passed easily with a large majority of 387 to 57 against.to 57 against.

Men over 21 allowed to vote.Men over 21 allowed to vote. Married women over 30 or property Married women over 30 or property

holders allowed to vote. holders allowed to vote. Still unfair but 8 million women did gain Still unfair but 8 million women did gain

the right to vote.the right to vote.

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AnalysisAnalysis

Did the war alone change attitudes to Did the war alone change attitudes to women’s suffrage?women’s suffrage?

Arthur MarwickArthur Marwick says - YES! There was a says - YES! There was a connection between war work and the vote.connection between war work and the vote.

““The nation thanks the women” billboards.The nation thanks the women” billboards. Former PM Asquith was the best example of Former PM Asquith was the best example of

an anti-suffrage MP who was converted to an anti-suffrage MP who was converted to the cause of votes for women.the cause of votes for women.

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Marwick Quote:Marwick Quote:

Arthur Marwick states:Arthur Marwick states: “ “The war brought a new confidence The war brought a new confidence

to women, removed apathy, silenced to women, removed apathy, silenced the female anti-suffragists. Asquith the female anti-suffragists. Asquith was only the most prominent of the was only the most prominent of the converts among men. Undoubtedly, converts among men. Undoubtedly, the replacement of militant the replacement of militant suffragette activity by frantic suffragette activity by frantic patriotic endeavour played its part patriotic endeavour played its part well”.well”.

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The Vote was not a The Vote was not a rewardreward

NO! – As argued by historians NO! – As argued by historians Martin Martin Pugh and Paula Bartley.Pugh and Paula Bartley.

Pugh argues Suffragists not given enough Pugh argues Suffragists not given enough credit for having shaped attitudes before credit for having shaped attitudes before WW1 e.g. 2 weeks before war broke out WW1 e.g. 2 weeks before war broke out leading suffragists were negotiating with leading suffragists were negotiating with government representatives over the government representatives over the suffrage.suffrage.

Bartley argues it was a strange reward as Bartley argues it was a strange reward as most war work done by young women in most war work done by young women in early 20s but they were not given the vote early 20s but they were not given the vote – only their mothers or older sisters over – only their mothers or older sisters over 30 – who didn’t do nearly as much war 30 – who didn’t do nearly as much war work.work.

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Arguments against the Arguments against the reward theory:reward theory:

Pugh argues women would have been Pugh argues women would have been given the vote eventually, as Britain given the vote eventually, as Britain would not want to seem undemocratic would not want to seem undemocratic and lag behind other countries – e.g. New and lag behind other countries – e.g. New Zealand, Australia and Canada, especially Zealand, Australia and Canada, especially as WW1 was supposedly fought to as WW1 was supposedly fought to preserve democracypreserve democracy

Bartley states: pre-war suffrage Bartley states: pre-war suffrage campaigns had a high profile. Even campaigns had a high profile. Even though women in France did war work though women in France did war work they did not get the vote until much later they did not get the vote until much later (1945) – largely because there was no (1945) – largely because there was no pre-war campaign by women to push pre-war campaign by women to push politicians towards votes for women.politicians towards votes for women.

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Arguments against Arguments against reward theoryreward theory

Martin Pugh states “…it has been Martin Pugh states “…it has been claimed that women’s valuable work claimed that women’s valuable work for the war effort radically changed for the war effort radically changed male ideas (about women)… seems male ideas (about women)… seems simplistic and erroneous. It obviously simplistic and erroneous. It obviously overlooks the pre-1914 changes of overlooks the pre-1914 changes of attitude as well as the hard attitude as well as the hard campaigning by the suffrage campaigning by the suffrage groups..”groups..”

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Arguments against reward theoryArguments against reward theory

Paula Bartley states:Paula Bartley states: ““It would be naïve to believe that women It would be naïve to believe that women

received the vote solely for services received the vote solely for services rendered in the First World War”.rendered in the First World War”.

““The significance of women’s war work in The significance of women’s war work in the achievement of the vote is therefore the achievement of the vote is therefore perhaps not as great as first assumed.”perhaps not as great as first assumed.”

She states it was easier for crafty She states it was easier for crafty politicians like Asquith to give women the politicians like Asquith to give women the vote in 1918 as they were “heroines” vote in 1918 as they were “heroines” rather than to militant suffragettes.rather than to militant suffragettes.