Women in Economy
The First World War saw to the beginning of women’s involvement in the Australian economy as women were called to replace the lack of labourers caused by the war involvement; naturally resulting in a variety of consequences and lasting after-effects.
The Australian economy was greatly affected by the First World War as, when men left to support their country, the women remained behind to replace the men most companies and work places had lost. This of course, caused various concerns and difficulties to arise in many work areas which had previously only been run by male employees. The women were inevitably, physically less able to perform various tasks, simple due to their natural lack of strength and physical endurance in comparison to a man. As women had previously only been knowledgeable in specific, seemingly more appropriate areas of interest, it was not surprising that they lacked necessary knowledge in the men’s work departments. As quoted by a factory worker of the time, although
“Women were seen as quick learners and… in some departments they are more efficient than men, although those departments have been employing men exclusively for years…” (Where women worked during WW1 n.d.)
they were not physically able to perform tasks and produce products as effectively as the men. This caused a massive drop in products and a slowdown in the production of much needed war material; thus, causing the economy to drop drastically due to the lack of endurance and physical strength harboured by many working women. As a result of this, crops took longer to harvest, causing food rations to fall short due to crops becoming spoiled before the harvest was complete. Ammunition and other weaponry related objects could not be produced fast enough to keep up with the unyielding demands of war and many other aspects of economy struggled to keep up with the high demands.
“Women were seen as quick learners and… in some departments they are more efficient than men, although those departments have been employing men exclusively for years…” (Where women worked during WW1 n.d.)
they were not physically able to perform tasks and produce products as effectively as the men. This caused a massive drop in products and a slowdown in the production of much needed war material; thus, causing the economy to drop drastically due to the lack of endurance and physical strength harboured by many working women. As a result of this, crops took longer to harvest, causing food rations to fall short due to crops becoming spoiled before the harvest was complete. Ammunition and other weaponry related objects could not be produced fast enough to keep up with the unyielding demands of war and many other aspects of economy struggled to keep up with the high demands.
Before the outbreak of the war it was considered much more appropriate for men to work whilst the women stayed behind in a more domestic environment engaging in traditional genders roles. Due to this, a demeaning opinion of women had formed causing businesses to become unwilling to directly replace their men’s work positions with women employees. Although the shortage of labour in the majority of industries caused it necessary to replace men with female workers, businesses remained unwilling to employ large quantities of women for fear of this resulting in a drastic lowering of wages. However, as the war continued, women were called upon to take on roles that were traditionally outside their genders expectations; however continued to receive less payment. As stated by Dr Stacey Robertson, director of the women’s studies program:
“Overall, women were paid less than their male counterparts who left for war; the rationale ... was lack of experience. By and large, pay depends on not only the type of job you’re working, but on experience, so certainly women with less experience, say, as welders or riveters, would be paid less.” (Dr Stacey Robertson 2011)
Businesses were reluctant to hire women as they did not believe them educated enough in those departments and assumed their not being used to such methods of work would render them unable to work as efficiently and productively. Many male employees also worried that the women’s willingness to work for lower payment would result in them losing their jobs; causing many to harbour resentful attitudes towards the female replacements and thus, a majority of the industries remained unenthusiastic about the role of women substitutions.
“Overall, women were paid less than their male counterparts who left for war; the rationale ... was lack of experience. By and large, pay depends on not only the type of job you’re working, but on experience, so certainly women with less experience, say, as welders or riveters, would be paid less.” (Dr Stacey Robertson 2011)
Businesses were reluctant to hire women as they did not believe them educated enough in those departments and assumed their not being used to such methods of work would render them unable to work as efficiently and productively. Many male employees also worried that the women’s willingness to work for lower payment would result in them losing their jobs; causing many to harbour resentful attitudes towards the female replacements and thus, a majority of the industries remained unenthusiastic about the role of women substitutions.
Prior to the war, women were not believed capable of performing well or participating in areas of work that were not traditionally “female”. However, as women began participating in various industrious departments which had, until then, been strictly considered men’s work; female employees proved themselves quite capable of working as productively and efficiently; resulting in women becoming aware of the extend of their abilities and unnecessary restrictions for the first time. It was due to this newly discovered freedom that, when the end of the war resulted in Australia’s businesses replacing their temporary female workers with the previous male employees; women remained unwilling to simple return to their traditional career paths. As quoted by Dellie Hahne, an educator working for the Red Cross during the war, Women had finally “had a taste of freedom, they had a taste of spending their own money, making their own decisions…” (Smoop we speak student 2012) Having discovered that they were indeed capable of engaging in the work they had previously been denied, women now desperately attempted to win their genders independence; demanding their right of equality with men in areas involving politics, work and their general social standing. Another woman, Peggy Terry, who had been employed in a munition factory, stated that “The war gave a lot of people jobs. It led them to expect more than they had before. People’s expectations, financially, spiritually, were raised” (Smoop we speak student 2012) Women had breifly been offered a glimpse into the life from which they had been hindered, and now that they knew what they were missing, they were unwilling to hand their countries responsibilities back over to the men.
As stated by Australia.gov.au (Woman in War 2012) the idea of woman having jobs, aside from their traditional domestic roles, was viewed as very uncommon and improper. Therefore, having been so restricted and limited to their choice of education and employment, the sudden opportunity to participate in areas which had, until recently, been unthinkable and inaccessible in their society, left many women anticipating in what would have been a mind-blowing, overwhelming opportunity. The women had to come to terms with the idea of them being allowed to acquire working positions that were not traditional; taking time to adjust to the different types of responsibility which they now harboured and the pressuring need they felt to prove themselves and their determination to establish a foundation of respect and approval from the society which was responsible for the limited authority and restricted lifestyles to which they had been bound. Many struggled to meet the physical endurance which the standard of their work required, whilst others sustained various injuries, some of which affected their health permanently, due to several industries consisting of unhealthy and hazardous work environments in which they suffered constant exposure to assorted poisonous substances without adequate protective garments or necessary safety procedures.
Overall, the female workers of the time had to greatly adapt to the many changes and lasting effects which so abruptly occurred; making it essential for them to harbour a persistent, enduring character; both in a mental and physical state.
A. Damjanovic