Women Flashcards
What were the 3 sectors of the women’s armed forces?
> WRNS
Women’s Royal Naval Services
> WAAF
Women’s Auxiliary Aird Force
> WTS
Worms territorial service
What was the legislation for women and the war effort?
> December 1941 the National Service Act (2)
- made provision for the conscription of women
> by 1943 17 million women were employed in the forces or essential war work
What were some of the problems faced by women working?
> many had to travel to remote areas before they began 12 hour shifts
> they were often only payed 75% of what a man would be
> they had to balance their work with home life responsibilities
What are the arguments to suggest that the war did change the position of women?
> gave women confidence and self respect
- could do jobs just as well as men
> gave women freedom and independence - (financially)
- daughters benefitted from this in the 1960s women’s movement
> by 1951 many married women were still in payed work
> some change in attitudes towards married women working
What are the arguments to suggest that the war did not change the position of women?
> many women willingly returned to home life after the war
- some had delayed raising children and so were eager to do this
> 1947 survey revealed that 58% of women thought that married women should not work
> many men AND women regarded the emerging independence of women as improper
> the media still portrayed women in the stereotypical domestic way
> there were limited career opportunities
> in 1946 in average women’s wage was £3 to the average male’s £5.70 and this was not changed by the equal pays commission
