How far did the position of women in British society change as a result of the First World War

P1 - WW1

• 1918 Representation of the People Act-Women over 30 who were ratepayers/married to ratepayers could vote

• Women: 43% of the electorate

• Women were confined to domestic roles, piece work/in-service work which was biggest employer

• Yet during WW1 this changed - 1917 Women Auxiliary Army Corps-signallers, nurses, engineers, cooks etc. By 1918 1m women in metals (munitions) and chemical industries alone. 800,000 were in engineering & drove trams and buses etc

• 1919 Sex Disqualification Act: Prevented barring from career in law/civil service based on gender

• However -

• Women under 30 & women over 30 who weren’t ratepayers/married to ratepayers still disenfranchised and their voices not heard-mostly w/c women

• Most women return to domestic roles when soldiers return to employment → numbers of employed women returned to 1914 levels-5.7m women working

P2 - Suffragists & Suffragettes

• NUWSS→ Fawcett pressured politicians, wrote petitions etc WSPU → Pankhursts: more militant, arson, vandalism, campaigning led to 1913 Cat and Mouse Act. Raised awareness of female suffrage issue and pressured politicians-put it on the political agenda.

• However -

• Their actions had alienated some against female suffrage

P3 - Long term trends towards democracy

• Growth of democracy & gradual extension of the franchise

• 1867 Conservatives' 2nd Reform Act, 1884 Gladstone's Liberals 3rd Reform Act, push for enfranchisement of men meant women's issue also discussed

• Context of the period -democratisation, urbanisation, industrialisation, political consciousness of the public had grown over time

• However -

• No party could realistically deny w/c men (around 6M men mobilised & 700k dead) and women the vote after the sacrifices of WW1 and social status of women dramatically changed by entering workforce

Conclusion

• Substantial change evident for women due to WW1 → Allowed step in career progresses & opportunities to enter work life as men at war

• Violent tactics of WSPU & limited impact of NUWSS efforts hindered progress for women's rights

• Trends towards democracy greatly focused for WC men, lack of support for women suffrage due to established societal attitudes towards women eg. Men can vote on behalf of women?