Transcript Slide 1
Key words:
Munitionettes
Monday, July 20, 2015
What role did women play in
WWI and WWII?
To explain the role of women in WW1 and WW2
To analyse the similarities and differences
between the 2 wars
To come to a substantiated judgement on
whether women only replaced men out of need
Controlled Assessment Tasks - The British People
in War
Question 2: Study Sources E to K.
‘The roles played by women on the Home Front and in the armed forces were
essentially the same in both World Wars: they were expected to do no more
than replace the men who went off to fight.’
How far do Sources E to K support this interpretation of the role of women in
the First and Second World Wars?
Explain your answer using the sources as well as your knowledge.
[24 marks]
Key considerations:
• How far did the way of life of the people of Britain change as a result of the
two World Wars?
• To what extent and why did the experience of the British people at war in
the First World War differ from their experience in the Second World War?
Contextual information
Women in ww2 :
Women in ww1 :
– Military support roles
– Military support roles
– Munitions
production/shipbuilding etc
– Munitions production
– Land army
– Land army
– conscription
– Medical roles
– WVS / ARP
– Replacing men in civilian
– Medical roles
jobs
– Replacing men in civilian
jobs
– Women agents
What attitude does the writer of the
source below have towards the role
of women in on the home front?
“From the first the women of title or position, led by the Queen,
gave time, money and ability to organizing or helping on some
movement for the care and comfort of the broken soldier…there
were hospitals which needed women’s aid…matinee
performances to be arranged…concerts to be promoted, bazaars
to be organized...They created and carried on free buffets for
soldiers and sailors…They showed taste and tireless energy in the
decoration and staffing of Y.M.C.A huts…Tea parties were
given…everything that could be done to entertain the wounded
was done…the women of the richer classes found a field for their
voluntary effort, while their sisters of the other classes were
making shells or driving vans.”
www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/differing-experiences-of-war/3495.html - how similar is this
clip to the above? Did women only replace men leaving for war? Explain
Impact of WWI on women
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMCOzuE1Lvo
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/the-womens-landarmy/12757.html - What did the women do? Focus Task P77
Walsh
1914
1919
Draw a timeline a to represent one event per year that impacted on the role of women
Use the sources and information to complete the table.
IF YOU FINISH: Do source C and F show change or continuity? Explain
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/who-benefitted-from-the-war/3494.html - what
does this clip suggest about the reasons why women were employed?
How did society change between
WWI and WWII?
• In 1920, women over 30 were given the vote
• By 1928, women over 21 had the vote
• A lot of women returned to their old roles
after WWI, but a number of them maintained
their jobs until they became married
• Women were generally paid less than men
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/how
-was-britain-changed-by-the-greatwar/3496.html
Impact of WWII on women
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/women-from-the-north-east-of-england-join-the-wareffort/12634.html - why did women join up and what was the attitude towards them?
According to Source E – why else did women join up?
Definition corner:
WAAF
WRENS
ATS
WLA
How did women’s lives:
Change
IF YOU FINISH: Answer Q 6&7 P113
I
Stay the same
Special Operations Executive (ww2)
• On Churchill’s orders, this special unit was
created in 1940, tasked with ‘setting europe
ablaze’, to disrupt the enemy.
• The agents – including women - were
recruited & trained in utmost secrecy, learning
skills of unarmed combat, wireless operation
etc, then dropped in occupied europe.
• The women often worked as wireless
operators, sending messages to britain –
risking detection; or as couriers – carrying
messages or sabotage equipment to resistance
groups. If caught they faced torture and
execution.
• http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/386800/C
hurchill-s-heroines-How-Britain-s-femalesecret-agents-changed-the-course-of-WWII
What were the differences between
women in WWI and WWII ?
• Consider:
– Types of jobs they did
– Number of women involved
– Pay and treatment
– Number of women in work after the war
• Q1&2 P304
“The government only encouraged women to work because it was
necessary.” Use the text and sources to explain whether or not you
agree with this statement.