The Role of Housewives in World War I
World War 1 was a turning point for women; before the war, all that they were expected and thought capable of was to cook, clean and look after their husbands and children. During the war, however, women were called upon to replace the lost men. From that point on, women realized that they were more important than just housewives, which eventually led the women’s’ union, etc.
The housewives of WWI would have felt a lot of things throughout the war; their husbands, brothers, fathers, sons and/or friends may have been going to war, with a good chance of not returning home. On top of this, some women had to start to work to make up for the loss of Australian working men so that women could have an income to feed themselves and/or their family and so the Australian economy didn’t fall too much. According to (http://www.firstworldwar.com /features/womenww1_four.htm), women may have been feeling stressed or anxious about having to start work, as they may have never worked a day in their lives; they may have only been housewives and cleaned and cooked. Women may have also been feeling proud of being an important part of Australia, and making a difference. With the added stress of resource shortages, grief of loved one, fears for their own future, caring for their family and having to now work, women in World War 1 were considered quite strong characters. Women were also expected to join charity/voluntary organisations to help those in need (Red Cross, etc.).
Housewives were expected to cook, clean, look after their families and the house. During war time, housewives had to do this plus having to possibly start to work; without the role of men to produce crops, etc., the Australian economy fell due to the lack of produce. The women, therefore, were called upon to take the role of the men. Women worked to produce crops, resources, money and more. Women were also expected to join a charity/voluntary organisation to help those in need. Some women also joined the war as nurses, working overseas to help wounded soldiers. Some nurses also stayed in Australia to help Australians who were sick or injured. Women also manned the transport systems, kept soldiers equipped with ammunition and guns, worked in shipyards, etc. In December 1917, the "London Gazette" surveyed 444,000 women. 68% of them had changed jobs since the war began in 1914. 16% had moved out of domestic service (servants); 22% were unemployed in 1914 and now had work; 23% had moved from one factory job to another factory.
The women worked in absence of the men due to the loss of the men in the war. So many young, fit and healthy men were going to war, leaving Australia with empty jobs and a falling economy. The women stepped in to replace the men and to help with the war effort. Women started to work in 1914, when they realized that the absence of the men would affect Australia and themselves in a huge way; without the women stepping in, the Australian economy would continually fall because nothing would be produced (crops, etc.)
Before the war, women relied on the men to ‘protect’ them, bring home money and to be a soul mate. When men had to go to war, women, of course, were scared about being alone and without their husbands/boyfriends to rely upon. The women had to use their own skills and develop new skills to be able to feed themselves and their families. The women could have had doubts about everything, from worrying about theft due to not have a man around, to worrying about their wellbeing if they couldn’t feed themselves.
According to (http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/women-in-wartime), most of the women were involved in working as nurses, picking crops, working in factories and charity groups. These were the areas which required the most recruitment. Some women worked overseas in the war to help wounded soldiers.
Having to work definitely affected the women’s’ ability to care for their children; they were to spend less time with their children, possibly not have enough money to sufficiently feed their families. Women had to bend their lives around to be able to feed and house themselves and their families and sacrifices had to be made in the name of war.
In the First World War, there was the sudden passion of nationalism… (Ryszard Kapuscinski). This quote sums up what the women of Australia did to keep their nation alive. They banded together to help soldiers and the Australian economy. Without the courage and bravery of the women, Australia would not have been the same as what it is today.
A. Gourlay
The housewives of WWI would have felt a lot of things throughout the war; their husbands, brothers, fathers, sons and/or friends may have been going to war, with a good chance of not returning home. On top of this, some women had to start to work to make up for the loss of Australian working men so that women could have an income to feed themselves and/or their family and so the Australian economy didn’t fall too much. According to (http://www.firstworldwar.com /features/womenww1_four.htm), women may have been feeling stressed or anxious about having to start work, as they may have never worked a day in their lives; they may have only been housewives and cleaned and cooked. Women may have also been feeling proud of being an important part of Australia, and making a difference. With the added stress of resource shortages, grief of loved one, fears for their own future, caring for their family and having to now work, women in World War 1 were considered quite strong characters. Women were also expected to join charity/voluntary organisations to help those in need (Red Cross, etc.).
Housewives were expected to cook, clean, look after their families and the house. During war time, housewives had to do this plus having to possibly start to work; without the role of men to produce crops, etc., the Australian economy fell due to the lack of produce. The women, therefore, were called upon to take the role of the men. Women worked to produce crops, resources, money and more. Women were also expected to join a charity/voluntary organisation to help those in need. Some women also joined the war as nurses, working overseas to help wounded soldiers. Some nurses also stayed in Australia to help Australians who were sick or injured. Women also manned the transport systems, kept soldiers equipped with ammunition and guns, worked in shipyards, etc. In December 1917, the "London Gazette" surveyed 444,000 women. 68% of them had changed jobs since the war began in 1914. 16% had moved out of domestic service (servants); 22% were unemployed in 1914 and now had work; 23% had moved from one factory job to another factory.
The women worked in absence of the men due to the loss of the men in the war. So many young, fit and healthy men were going to war, leaving Australia with empty jobs and a falling economy. The women stepped in to replace the men and to help with the war effort. Women started to work in 1914, when they realized that the absence of the men would affect Australia and themselves in a huge way; without the women stepping in, the Australian economy would continually fall because nothing would be produced (crops, etc.)
Before the war, women relied on the men to ‘protect’ them, bring home money and to be a soul mate. When men had to go to war, women, of course, were scared about being alone and without their husbands/boyfriends to rely upon. The women had to use their own skills and develop new skills to be able to feed themselves and their families. The women could have had doubts about everything, from worrying about theft due to not have a man around, to worrying about their wellbeing if they couldn’t feed themselves.
According to (http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/women-in-wartime), most of the women were involved in working as nurses, picking crops, working in factories and charity groups. These were the areas which required the most recruitment. Some women worked overseas in the war to help wounded soldiers.
Having to work definitely affected the women’s’ ability to care for their children; they were to spend less time with their children, possibly not have enough money to sufficiently feed their families. Women had to bend their lives around to be able to feed and house themselves and their families and sacrifices had to be made in the name of war.
In the First World War, there was the sudden passion of nationalism… (Ryszard Kapuscinski). This quote sums up what the women of Australia did to keep their nation alive. They banded together to help soldiers and the Australian economy. Without the courage and bravery of the women, Australia would not have been the same as what it is today.
A. Gourlay