Women & WW2_1

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Hey guys, i know we don't need to know this but it was from my blitz project, just for some extra info in the test.

Women

& WW2 Notes

Work:

· Male

conscription was made official in October 1939 - this caused a severe

employment decrease

· Women needed

to work to fill the gap in the work force.

· 18 – 60 year

olds were conscripted into the war effort: nursing, factories, transport or the

Land Army.

· Women apart of the WVS (Women’s Voluntary

Service) were able to take part in the ARP (Air Raid Precautions)

· Women were

conscripted into the ammunition industry - they assembled weapons, built ships,

trucks and aircraft.

· They provided

logistical support to the civil service.

· At the same

time women were also raising their families

· Parents were

offered flexible working hours, free nurseries and leisure time in the mornings

to attend to domestic requirements.

· The ATA (Air Transport

Auxiliary) involved 164 female pilots to transport and repair planes in numerous

war zones.

· The ATA

delivered 308,567 aircraft

Liberation & Camaraderie:

· In 1928 the Women of Britain won voting

rights

· The Blitz was the first major ‘breakthrough’

for women as they could become employed without being unaccepted in society.

· This gave the Blitz Women a sense of

freedom and power

· During the war

the controversy between the obligations of men and women relaxed, as women were

needed to work.

· A great sense

of camaraderie was brought to women as many females from different cultures and

backgrounds worked together.

· A new form of

respect developed as everyone was treated equally in the workforce

Social Life:

·

The

average woman would visit the cinema two to three times per week to escape the

disturbances they faced during the war.

·

Cinemas

and dances were often a way to distract themselves from the horrors they

experienced or heard about.

·

Rationing of clothes was introduced in the summer

of 1941 - women to wear trousers and more masculine clothes.

·

‘Make Do And Mend’, and ‘Sew And Save’ were

common methods to make the most of their clothing rations.

·

There were groups were women would go to learn

these methods along with others to save money; e.g. parachute silk was often

recycled for fancier clothing.

Conclusion: :)

· The Blitz was

a crucial point in British history for women as it prompted the first revolt

against unemployment in the female community.

· After the war,

men were returning and needed their jobs back so women felt it was their place

to return to domesticity and look after the children and homes.

· Though this

short but highly significant period of time stimulated the next rebellion in

the 60s as women had shown that they were just as powerful as men during the

Blitz and throughout WII.

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