World War One which was fought between July 28th 1914 to November 11th 1918 was one of the largest war in history. Many European countries were involved in this war and Britain was not an exception. However, at that time, the British only had a small army of volunteers. Men had to be called out to fight the war for their country. With men recruited into the army, many of the jobs in the country were left vacant. In 1916, there was a conscription which required the need for women to work urgently. How would this war affect women? They were greatly affected. Women were now given greater opportunities to do jobs which were conventionally reserved for men. However, these opportunities came with many downsides such as inequality of pay, changes in gender expectations and the after effect of World War One. Besides women, children was also not spared by the war. Some of the children had to work, and be moved around to get away from dangerous areas. This in turn affects their schooling, health and welfare.
Women
In the beginning of World War One, women were commonly employed as domestic servants at homes. Other occupations for women were like teachers and nurses. Most women already worked outside of their homes for money, while also taking their role as domestic servant inside their own homes. Women did mostly domestic task like sewing, knitting, dressmaking, washing, ironing, and jewellery making. It was not until World War One that women had the freedom to do the men’s job which they were not allowed to do before.
When men were being called to fight during the war, women took over men’s job. Women had to do jobs on land like farming and they set up the Women’s Land Army in 1917. Women also worked as railway guards, ticket collectors, buses and tram conductors, postal workers, police, firefighters and as bank tellers and clerks. In addition, women would also support the military effort by being nurses caring for the wounded soldiers, or as drivers driving ambulances and being cooks. Additionally, many served in the three armed forces which were the army, navy and air such as the Women’s Royal Air Force Service. Furthermore, female factory workers worked in textile production but many also moved to metal working in factories, creating war material such as making military weapons, ammunitions and equipment. The high demand for weapons resulted in the munitions factories becoming the largest single employer of women during 1918. As a result, women who worked in the munitions factory, suffered from ‘canaries’ because that had to handle TNT which caused their skin to turn yellow. The new job opportunities opened up for women in civil service went up by 1751%, in transport it went up by 544%, in metal it went up by 376% and in chemical it went up by 160%. Over the course of the war, 200,000 women took up jobs in governmental departments. 500,000 women took up clerical positions in private offices. 250,000 women worked on in agricultural positions and 700,000 women took up post in the munitions industry, which was dangerous work. And more women did hard heavy work such as building ships and furnace stoking. By January 1918, the women employed rose from 3.2 million to 5 million.
During World War One women were not paid equally compared to men because they thought that women would not produce as much output as men. But it was proven that after women took over men’s jobs they performed more efficiently. However, this did not change the government’s perception that women would be less productive than men. Even though, the union guaranteed that if women worked the same job as men that they will be paid the same amount. This change was only during the war time. After World War One ended, soldiers came back and took back their jobs. Although the opportunity for women to work was only temporary during the war, it gave women a voice to demand for equal pay and equal treatment at work. Women went on strike because of those unfair treatments of women who did the same job as men and even excel in many of the jobs. In 1919, The Sex Disqualification Act of 1919 made it an offence to discriminate female workers in any jobs.
World War One changed many lives for both men and women. Despite the sudden change that affected many women and men but the basic idea about gender remained the same throughout the war. Males were recognized to the nation as combats and women were recognized as mothers and their role as guardians of morality. Moreover, they were celebrated for their quiet heroism for keeping the house safe and in proper order whilst their men were away fighting. Some women were happy to take over the role of men’s jobs. But some faced challenges that made them want to return to pre-war conditions. Some men, found meaning in their military service and sacrifice while others were traumatized by the devastating injuries from poison gas, machine gun fires and artillery shells.
The war destroyed so many lives, and changed every aspect of their lives too. The aftermath of World War One helped women in many nations gained the right to vote. But being involved in politics was still limited. Returning men took back their jobs from women and women returned to their households chores. Women were also dressed differently compared to before the war. Many women had shorter hair and wearing shorter skirts, wore trousers which became fashionable. Furthermore, women could go out with men without a chaperone and wear makeup in public. Women could also smoke, and in 1919 female could be married and still hold their jobs. New form of communication between sexes was made possible and the concern about women’s domestic life and family remained the same.
Children
Women and children both suffered and were affected by World War One. Children worked and helped in the war effort such as scouts and guides like Boys Scouts and Girl Guides. It was a youth’s organization to provide assistance to the British War effort. Girl Guides would make medical equipment for wounded soldiers like bandages, swabs and stings. They also worked in farms growing vegetables, harvesting and delivering milk. Boys Scout helped collect and deliver eggs for troops that were injured. They also helped patrol roads and guard railway lines. Moreover, they took air force duties like aircraft spotting, sounding the all-clear signal after an attack, reporting and escorting people to safe shelters. Boys Scouts also were secret agents that were used to carry and deliver messages for the British Secret Service and wrote messages to soldiers. Boys lied about their age to help with the war and joined the army. As birth certificates were nonexistent, it was easy to lie.
Children were also forced to take over the role of men in factories like ammunition factories and farms to help out with the family’s income. Furthermore, they also delivered newspapers as they were a high demand for newspapers as citizens wanted to know the news about what was happening on the war front. Children were paid to collect fruits such as horse chestnuts which could be used as explosives and blackberries for making jam. There were also paid to collect chocolates and books for the soldiers. The children also knitted socks, scarves and balaclava helmets for the soldiers fighting during the harsh, cold weather during winter. Children also collected unwanted but essential materials like metal that could be recycled and use for the war.
Younger children were affected by World War One as they were forced to evacuate out from the city following an evacuation plan to avoid possible danger on them. Children below the age of 5 and their mothers were evacuated from areas which were dangerous to safer areas. World War One affected many other aspects of children’s lives.
Children perception was changed due to the war. They were confused about why there was World War One, and why their family members like their fathers were gone. It was too complex to explain and they were not able to understand the complexity of the war. They were also a lot of propaganda directed towards the children and children’s writing their own experiences of the war showed that some children had some relation to the war.
In school works, they discussed and wrote on their experience which showed that children were fearful because of the war yet excited as they explored new technologies. Schools were constantly being interrupted for the children as the war was going on and they were not really taught as male teachers went out to fight and were replaced by female or retired men. Children in school learnt how to hide from safety like hiding under their tables in case there was an invasion. Many children lived quite a normal life during the war. They did the usual like helping around the house cooking and more. In addition, children were given extra protection when necessary like wearing a gas mask in case an invasion happens.
The health and welfare of children in Great Britain were given extra attention during the war. Many children in European countries suffered and died during the war. For example, the Britain blockade of food into German Ports and influenza epidemic affected the health of children significantly which caused the rate of deaths to increase by one thirds over before World War One started. However, the British feared the decrease in birth rate and death of soldiers during the war will reduce the national security. Therefore, the government put great importance on the health of the children, the future workers of Britain. Healthcare and sanitation were not only maintained but significantly improved. The increased standard of living from increased wages, gave parents the ability to provide better nutrients and lifestyle to their children. Welfare programme were also set up to help children. Public assistance was given to the children whose father died for their country while fighting.
Children that experienced World War One also suffered one way or the other like their parents, relatives and friends. Their lives were never the same again as the war impacted them significantly, physically, emotionally and mentally. They would have to carry the memories of this devastating war with them throughout their lives. But, after World War One ended, some children that were being sent away during war for protection, stayed and grew up with their foster parents and some tried to find their biological parents but could not because they either passed away or did not know where they lived. While, other children grew up to be stronger physically and mentally and become more independent as their parents were not around anymore.