Women and World War 1

Women in the workforce

As men left their jobs to become soldiers, women took their place and adapted a new role in society

• In Britain alone, nearly 2 million women replaced men in their jobs

• In Britain and France, women occupied 35% of the workforce

New Roles Women were needed to work jobs formerly occupied by men:

new factory positions

land

construction and transport

hospitals (at home and at war)

industry and engineering: ammunition, building ships, loading and unloading coal

• Although women were doing men’s jobs, they were not receiving equal pay

• HOWEVER, their incorporation into the workforce inspired new responsibility and independence

• women began to fight for equal rights and treatment

• suffragist movements demanded that women received the right to vote.

• number of women in labor unions increased 160% from 1914 -1918