Women's lives and experiences Flashcards
What was a common organisation to volunteer with?
Voluntary Aid Detachment
What did Voluntary Aid Detachment nurses do?
Not fully trained; generally routine duties. Field nursing services
How many women served as VAD nurses?
Over 90,000 women served
How many VAD nurses served overseas?
8,000
How many women joined the workforce over the course of the war?
1.6 million
What sparked the entry of many women into the workforce?
Shell shortage crisis. Upon Lloyd George’s appointment as Minister for Munitions in 1915, focused on increasing production-dilution
Who was the largest employer of women?
Ministry of Munitions
How many female munitions workers were employed over the course of the war?
750,000
By 1917, what percentage of British munitions were made by female workers?
80%
What were some of the issues with working conditions in munitions factories?
Many women-TNT poisoning due to chemicals used in explosives; harsh and dangerous
How many women worked in the Land Army?
23,000
When was the Women’s Land Army formed?
Early 1917
What did women in the Land Army do?
Land Army aimed to address labour shortage in agriculture; increase British food production-could work in agriculture, timber cutting, foraging
What were the primary differences between women and men in the armed forces?
Women were not given full military statues; generally took on non-combat jobs to free up men to fight
When was the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps founded?
January 1917
What did women do in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps?
Domestic roles-clerk, waitress, cook, driver
What was the difference between women in the WAAC and men in the army?
Women enrolled and weren’t enlisted; no rank; disciplined in civilian courts
How many women served in the WAAC?
57,000
Why did many women join the Women’s Royal Air Force?
Hoping to learn a trade (however, initially, wages based on existing skills)
What did many women in the Women’s Royal Air Force do?
Clerical workers
How many women served in the Royal Air Force?
32,000
What was the nickname of women in the Women’s Royal Naval Service?
Wrens
What was the original job of women in the Women’s Royal Naval Service?
To take over UK based jobs of navy men so they could go on active service overseas
By the end of the war, what were women in the Women’s Royal Naval Service doing?
‘Men’s jobs’-engineers, code experts, electricians; some took to water as crew
At peak, how many members were there in the Women’s Royal Naval Service?
Over 7000 members
What happened upon the declaration of war?
Many feminist movements announced suspension of political agitation until British victory was achieved
What was the stance taken by the Women’s Social and Political Union upon the outbreak of war?
Called on men to enlist, advocated harsh treatment of conchies, called on women to do more in support
What did the WSPU do in support of the war effort?
Newspaper, The Suffragette, changed name to Britannia at the end of 1915
What did the Representation of the People Act do?
Gave women a limited right to vote; however, not a direct record for service. Enfranchised generally middle class and married; munitionettes generally working class
