Women helping by being nurses for the war. Photo Courtesy- http://www.anzacday.org.au/history/ww1/anecdotes/images/nurses.jpg
What tasks did women have to do?
Women had a significant role in the war, on the home front and overseas. On the home front they made packages for the men at war. They organised canteens and made ‘presents’ that contained knitted goods, cigarettes, postcards and chocolates as well as foods from ‘luxury stores’. Women were also a source of support for the men at war as they carried a picture of their mothers, sisters or girlfriends and had supportive postcards and pocketed letter that were sent (Macdonald, 2003).
Prior to World War I, it was extremely rare for a woman to not work in a ‘domestic’ role (Australian Government, 2013). However, women in the workforce rose 13% between 1914-1918; but these work areas included roles dealing with already ‘domestic’ tasks such as food, clothing and printing industry jobs (Australian Government, 2013) (ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee). Moreover, the roles and occupations were already considered as women’s tasks (Australian Government, 2013). There was a minute increase in female workers in the clerical, shop assistant and teaching areas as these jobs were considered traditional male roles. The Unions were unwilling to allow women to replace the men in some positions as they feared it would lower wages (ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee). The idea of women working in the workforce were men traditionally were, was resisted until World War II (Darlington, Smithies, & Wood, 2012).However, patriotic women longed to participate in more war-related activities such as cooking, stretcher bearers, motor car drivers, munitions workers and interpreters; however the government would not allow this. Instead they became involved through numerous women’s organisations, such as the Australian Women’s National League, Australian Red Cross and the Country Women’s Association (ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee).
When men went to war, life changed significantly for women. They were often ‘thrusted’ into more public roles rather than the domestic duties that women were to do; these roles included mostly clerical jobs or bank tellers. But, women were sometimes thrown into the deep end, by having to complete many ‘traditional male roles’ such as graziers, wheat and sheep farmers, miners, rural workers and labourers the fit and healthy men who would normally take up the task were at war.
Prior to World War I, it was extremely rare for a woman to not work in a ‘domestic’ role (Australian Government, 2013). However, women in the workforce rose 13% between 1914-1918; but these work areas included roles dealing with already ‘domestic’ tasks such as food, clothing and printing industry jobs (Australian Government, 2013) (ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee). Moreover, the roles and occupations were already considered as women’s tasks (Australian Government, 2013). There was a minute increase in female workers in the clerical, shop assistant and teaching areas as these jobs were considered traditional male roles. The Unions were unwilling to allow women to replace the men in some positions as they feared it would lower wages (ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee). The idea of women working in the workforce were men traditionally were, was resisted until World War II (Darlington, Smithies, & Wood, 2012).However, patriotic women longed to participate in more war-related activities such as cooking, stretcher bearers, motor car drivers, munitions workers and interpreters; however the government would not allow this. Instead they became involved through numerous women’s organisations, such as the Australian Women’s National League, Australian Red Cross and the Country Women’s Association (ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee).
When men went to war, life changed significantly for women. They were often ‘thrusted’ into more public roles rather than the domestic duties that women were to do; these roles included mostly clerical jobs or bank tellers. But, women were sometimes thrown into the deep end, by having to complete many ‘traditional male roles’ such as graziers, wheat and sheep farmers, miners, rural workers and labourers the fit and healthy men who would normally take up the task were at war.
How did women react to conscription votes
Conscription votes played a major role in World War 1. Conscription is considered one of the most controversial and diverse topics of Australian history (Darlington, 2012). Conscription was a system in which Australia used to recruit men for war. It involved ‘forcing’ men to go to war, by giving them a choice- fight in the war or go to jail (Darlington, 2012) (ANZACDayCommemerationCommittee). It consisted of the government selecting random days in the year, and if a man’s birthday fell on one of the specific days they were off to war (ANZACDayCommemerationCommittee) (Darlington, 2012). Government continued to do so until they had a powerful number of men in the Australia’s army, so in short they used it until the war was over (ANZACDayCommemerationCommittee).
There were two types of women in society the patriots and the pacifists. The patriots were those in favour of the war; if a woman was a patriotic, the family was patriotic (ANZACDayCommemerationCommittee) (Darlington, 2012). Those who were patriots usually were actually involved in the war such as nurses, stretcher bearers or driving motor vehicles (Darlington, 2012) (ANZACDayCommemerationCommittee). On the home front patriots sewing clothes, organising raffles, baking cakes and preparing packs for the men overseas (Macdonald, 2003). Also, a number of women were also nurses overseas (Darlington, 2012). Naturally, patriots were in favour of conscription they believed it was Australia’s duty to support Great Britain, also known as the ‘mother country’; they believed in ‘equality of sacrifice and to upkeep the good reputation of Australia (Darlington, 2012). Fuel that added to this fire was that other allies such as New Zealand, Canada and Great Britain had already introduced conscription and that already, the voluntary recruitment system had failed (Darlington, 2012). Those supporting this were every political party (except Labor), business organisations, newspapers such as The Argus, The Age and The Bulletin (which were popular), protestant churches and a number of returned soldiers (Darlington, 2012).
As stated, Pacifists were the complete opposite; they were strongly against war. Most pacifists believed that war was wrong and unnecessary and ‘were always started by men’ (Macdonald, 2003). Pacifists also believed that instead of war, problems should be solved by ‘talking it out’ in a peaceful manner (Macdonald, 2003) (Darlington, 2012). Pacifist arguments were based on 5 key beliefs; no person had the right to force someone to kill/ wound another; not enough farm hands; the burden of the fight would be unfairly in the hands of the working class; too many men had already been injured or had died and conscription would ‘divide’ Australia (Darlington, 2012). People who supported this were trade unions, the Labor Party, the Catholic Church; people of Irish decent (as a result of Britain’s act on the uprising of Ireland in Easter 1916, when they executed the Irish leader (Darlington, 2012); Women’s Peace Army; the majority of working class people and some returned soldiers (Darlington, 2012)
With these two very different and very strong opinions, arguments broke out about conscription. These arguments were on going through the parliament and on the streets, often resulting in social problems. This ultimately resulted in the ‘Referendum Vote’.
By Ellie
There were two types of women in society the patriots and the pacifists. The patriots were those in favour of the war; if a woman was a patriotic, the family was patriotic (ANZACDayCommemerationCommittee) (Darlington, 2012). Those who were patriots usually were actually involved in the war such as nurses, stretcher bearers or driving motor vehicles (Darlington, 2012) (ANZACDayCommemerationCommittee). On the home front patriots sewing clothes, organising raffles, baking cakes and preparing packs for the men overseas (Macdonald, 2003). Also, a number of women were also nurses overseas (Darlington, 2012). Naturally, patriots were in favour of conscription they believed it was Australia’s duty to support Great Britain, also known as the ‘mother country’; they believed in ‘equality of sacrifice and to upkeep the good reputation of Australia (Darlington, 2012). Fuel that added to this fire was that other allies such as New Zealand, Canada and Great Britain had already introduced conscription and that already, the voluntary recruitment system had failed (Darlington, 2012). Those supporting this were every political party (except Labor), business organisations, newspapers such as The Argus, The Age and The Bulletin (which were popular), protestant churches and a number of returned soldiers (Darlington, 2012).
As stated, Pacifists were the complete opposite; they were strongly against war. Most pacifists believed that war was wrong and unnecessary and ‘were always started by men’ (Macdonald, 2003). Pacifists also believed that instead of war, problems should be solved by ‘talking it out’ in a peaceful manner (Macdonald, 2003) (Darlington, 2012). Pacifist arguments were based on 5 key beliefs; no person had the right to force someone to kill/ wound another; not enough farm hands; the burden of the fight would be unfairly in the hands of the working class; too many men had already been injured or had died and conscription would ‘divide’ Australia (Darlington, 2012). People who supported this were trade unions, the Labor Party, the Catholic Church; people of Irish decent (as a result of Britain’s act on the uprising of Ireland in Easter 1916, when they executed the Irish leader (Darlington, 2012); Women’s Peace Army; the majority of working class people and some returned soldiers (Darlington, 2012)
With these two very different and very strong opinions, arguments broke out about conscription. These arguments were on going through the parliament and on the streets, often resulting in social problems. This ultimately resulted in the ‘Referendum Vote’.
By Ellie