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Posted: March 6th, 2024
Employment Opportunities for Women in Europe After WWI
The First World War had a profound impact on the lives and identities of women in Europe. During the war, almost two million women entered paid employment for the first time, to replace men who had been called up. They worked in various sectors, such as railways, shops, trams, coal delivery, clerks, flour milling and munitions factories. They also faced challenges such as appalling working conditions, unequal pay, lack of childcare and social stigma. Women were praised as heroines, doing their bit for the war effort, but also expected to give up their jobs and return to domesticity once the war was over.
The final year of the war saw some significant legislative changes that affected women’s rights and roles in society. The Representation of the People Act of 1918 enfranchised eight million women aged thirty and over, while the Parliament (Qualification of Women Act) of the same year enabled women to stand as MPs. The Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act of 1919 opened all professions to women and entitled those who were married to work. However, these acts were not fully implemented or respected by all institutions, and women still faced discrimination and exclusion in many spheres.
The post-war period was a time of hope and opportunity, but also of instability and uncertainty for women. The war had shown that women were capable of performing tasks that had previously been deemed impossible or unsuitable for them, and that they could combine work and family responsibilities. Many women wanted to continue working or pursue careers, while others preferred to return to traditional gender roles. Feminists broadened their objectives to include equal pay, equal promotion and the end of marriage bars. The cult of motherhood and domesticity coexisted with women’s increasing desire for fulfilment outside the home.
The role of women in post-war times was shaped by various factors, such as class, ethnicity, region and ideology. Women’s experiences and expectations varied across Europe, depending on the political, economic and social context of each country. The war had challenged the norms and stereotypes of femininity, but it did not fundamentally transform them. Women still had to struggle for recognition and equality in a male-dominated society.
References:
– What is the role of women in post-war times? | ERC
– Women in WWI and its aftermath – have attitudes changed?
– What Role Did Women Play in World War I? – ThoughtCo
– World War I: 1914-1918 | Striking Women
– How did World War II change women’s employment possibilities?
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