Work

Before the war, women mainly had jobs in the home, cooking, cleaning or taking care of children as nursemaids or nannies. Some women would also have jobs as teachers, either in schools or as a governess in the home.

Another type of work women could do was piece work, for this work, they were paid for each item they finished. Piece work could be ironing, sewing or making clothes and  toys.

When the war started a lot of men had to go away to fight, this meant that there was suddenly a huge problem…who would do all of their jobs? Women then took on the jobs that their husbands, fathers, brothers and sons had left behind.

Between 1914 and 1918 an estimated 2 million women took on men’s jobs. The Ministry of Munitions (where weapons were made) hired 1 million women by the end of the war. At one point, nearly 80% of munitions factory workers were women.

The women working in weapons factories were sometimes called “Canary Girls” because their skin would turn yellow from handling TNT (which is what was used to make explosives and bombs).

The Front Line

Florence Nightingale's contribution during the Crimean War, made it easier for women to train as nurses.

The nurses on the front line would look after wounded soldiers, giving them medical treatment and feeding them. They also had to make sure rooms, beds and areas were kept clean.

The US Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard wanted to let women join and help fight; the Army had lots of rules against women joining so this was hard but the Navy and Coast Guard let in all the women that wanted to join. The women were given the same uniform, insignia and status as men.

Many women in World War 1 wanted to do more than just be nurses or aids, so some women disguised themselves as men in order to fight.

Women's Army Auxiliary Corps

In 1917, the Army needed more help as so many men had been injured or killed during battle. They saw that many men, who could be useful in battle, were doing jobs that did not involve any fighting. Jobs on the army base, in offices, stores and canteens were opened up to women.

More than 50,000 women joined the WAAC by the end of the war, many learning new skills, like mechanics, typewriting,
Home

Back in the 1900’s most women would stay home, cook, clean and look after the family. After their husbands went to war, however, these women had to do a lot more. They would get a job, look after all the money and bills and also fix anything that was broken or needed mending. This may not sound like very much but back then they really didn’t have things like washing machines that make household jobs easier.

After the war

Nowadays in the UK, women have the same rights as men, but it was not always that way. Before the war (1800’s - 1900’s) women didn't have the same rights as men - they couldn't vote in elections and most women could only get domestic jobs like cleaning, cooking and taking care of children.

When the war ended in November 1918, women over 30 years old were given the right to vote, then later on, in 1928, all women over 21 were allowed to vote! Women were also able to be elected to Parliament. These were very big milestones for equal rights.