...Since the dawn of time, women have been deemed to be useless sub-humans whose existence serves only 2 purposes; handling babies and the kitchen. Today things are a little different, but women are still on the bottom of the food chain and it might stay that way for a long time. Then again, we have proven men wrong time and time again. As an example, in WW1. While the men were lifting muscles and exerting their testosterone, women were holding up the front. Some of the activities they took part are mentioned below. 1. Taking on new jobs- Due to the absence of male figures in the work industry, women had to take the duty of filling in the vacancy. Even though at this time, women weren’t seen as the ideal candidate for out of household duties....
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...Women Changing Role’s in the 1920’s During the 1920’s women had began to change their roles in society to show that they can be more than what they appeared. Before the 1920’s women were second class citizens that came second in society, they did not have the same privileges as men did. Many women also did not have jobs which contributed to society because women were busy at home taking care of children and the house. Also the expectations of men were to be the supporters of the family which made women housewives. Women of the 1920’s were represented as well mannered and proper or a better term “Lady like.” Soon after they began to change how society portrayed them. Women’s changing roles in the 1920’s influenced other women to gain more responsibilities and show men that they are just as equal as they are, such as how they dressed, women’s patriotism, and women’s employment. Women’s roles changed because of how they dressed. Women’s fashion began to dress in a more risqué look with shorter clothing. This new fashion statement began to pick up a reputation and a name called Flappers. Flappers were women who dressed in shorter dresses showing more skin above their ankles that ended near their mid thighs. Their dresses came in various colors and styles, but what all their dresses had in common was silky material and loosely embroidered beading around each dress. Make-up was also one of the biggest and most commonly seen in flapper’s styles. “Five factors had become important...
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...Marxist feminist Michelle Barrett (1980) argues that the role ideology plays in convincing women that unpaid domestic labour is fulfilling is important. Barrett discusses the ideology of ‘familism’ the notion that female fulfillment lies in the family. For Marxist feminists, the cause of female oppression is rooted in capitalism. They argue that although individual men benefit from women’s subordination, the main beneficiary is capitalism. Women are an unpaid labour force, as unpaid housewives, and have been used in WW1 as a reserve army of labour. This oppression is believed to be maintained by the role women adopt within the capitalist’s system as the unpaid homemaker in the family. Women are conceived that this unpaid role is natural and normal, through the ideology of ‘familism’ that promotes female fulfillment as achieved through motherhood intimacy and sexual satisfaction. Marxist feminists believe that in order to end female subordination, we must overthrow capitalism as well as the ideology of familism. This would free the sexes from restrictive family roles and ensure that domestic labour was shared equally. Strengths of Marxist feminists include the fact that they have demonstrated the power of structural factors, such as capitalism and ideology in constructing an explanation for women’s subordination. However, Marxist feminists have been criticised for failing to explain women’s subordination in non-capitalist societies. Marxist feminism also places insufficient emphasis...
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...The role of women changed considerably during the 20th century. At the beginning of the 20th century, women were considered homemakers – their sole role was tied closely to child bearing and rearing as well as doing all the house work and attending the sick in the family. This view of the woman was supported by almost everybody – from men, good wives and the government. Men at this point felt that a working woman means that her man is not providing enough therefore was a treat to her husband’s manhood. Women who found jobs in factories were paid a lot less than men, although they were doing the same job. Most of the women were occupying teachers, secretary and nursing positions. Unions were reluctant to protect women’s rights because initially they also believed that the woman’s place is at home. The government, although realizing that women were a significant and needed part of the labor force, did nothing to protect them. The way people viewed a woman’s role changed a lot during the 20th century. I will examine this change and will bring to light at least part of the difficulties that women who needed or wanted to work, were experiencing. During the 19th century, the work that married women were doing was in the house. “When a husband was unemployed, sick, or simply not earning enough to balance the budget sewing, housecleaning, watching children and cooking could all be turned into marketable skills and a source of cash.” (Bradbury, 1993) To get paid a woman could do the laundry...
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...World War 1 was the first global war in history, starting in 1914 and ending in 1918. During World War one, the evolution of women rights drastically changed. Women went from working in the domestic industry, to part taking in jobs, which were predominantly designed for men. To fully comprehend the impact of how the role of women changed during World War 1, it is important to discuss how women’s roles in society changed during war, women’s contributions in war and women’s contributions at the home front. By examining these themes, it becomes evident that the role of women forever changed due to World War 1. World War 1, played a significant part in influencing women’s roles to work, as well as their political standards and rights. Before...
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...women to finally equal as men in terms of the voting system. There were many reason to why women were given the vote, they include: the NUWSS, the WSPU, the Impact of WW1, Changing Society and Events in Other Counties. The suffragists did play a key role in female suffrage but many other factors must be considered to be equally important. The NUWSS, nicknamed the Suffragists, were formed in 1897 and led by Millicent Fawcett. The suffragists were mainly comprised of middle class and very few working class women; they had a member ship of just over 53,000. They used non-violent tactics such as marches, writing letters to the government, holding meeting and giving out free newspaper. These tactics had very little effect on the public as the government didn’t see them as a threat and they didn’t find women’s suffrage as an important issue, so they began to ignore them. Therefore women’s suffrage was gradually going down on the political agenda. The suffragists were realists as they recognised that only parliament could deliver the vote, so MP’s had to be persuaded. In this, they were successful as they got the attention of Labour MP’s Keir Hardie and George Lansbury, this gave the NUWSS someone willing to represent them and speak on their behalf in parliament for the first time ever in the UK. Both MP’s spoke about women’s suffrage in parliament, yet they too achieved very little for the cause. However the NUWSS did achieve something good from their campaigning. The...
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...Canada’s Homefront During WW1 In August 1914, Britain declared war on Germany, which meant that Canada was going to war as well. Canada’s young men were going to war to serve their country as well as demonstrating their patriotic duty to Britain as they left behind their loved ones on the Canadian homefront. The First World War had a profound impact on life in Canada during the war. As our Canadian soldiers faced conflicts and huge challenges on foreign battlefields, there were many changes coming for those left behind on the Canadian homefront as they faced many social challenges and a shift in life, as they knew it. During WW1, the Canadian homefront saw a great transformation in the role of women in Canadian society, reforms in the labour movement and an increase in tension between French and English Canadians due to the conscription crisis. At the turn of the century, the role of women in Canadian society began to change drastically as their roles expanded beyond the home. Many Canadians viewed the woman’s role as the mother and homemaker but Canada’s participation in WW1 dramatically altered how women were viewed. So many Canadian men enlisted in the war that Canadian labour force was hugely diminished because if men were at war, they could not be working in the factories so Canada was forced to turn to women to join the workforce. “As the number of volunteers increased it was becoming clear that a new source of labour would have to be found. Women...
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...tremendously but it also impacted the roles of women. During 1914 to 1918 the roles of women were changing drastically. As the men went to war the women of Canada began to attain opportunities, economically and politically. Although many believed women to be incapable the Canadian women took control of professions formally handled by men and gained immensely from this. Once the war began it opened up many opportunities for Canadian women including jobs. The women took the places of men while they were at war. The women helped the economy greatly because if it was not for them Canada’s economy would fail. Women began to participate in war, from nursing to munitions manufacturing to gain involvement. Canadian women helped the economy because they were...
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...------------------------------------------------- How Propaganda Swayed the Public Opinion During World War I Rachel Corona Abstract World War 1 proved America to be the nation producing the highest amount of propaganda. Through his use of propaganda President Wilson was able to draw American Support for the war. Despite his being elected as the “peace” president. Many Americans believed he’d keep them out of the war, especially after he stated that, “so far as I can remember, this is a government of the people, and this people is not going to choose war.” Before his election, Wilson promoted American neutrality. He pushed for what he believed his Americans wanted. However, through his employment of propaganda, Woodrow Wilson was able to convince the American people to join the ranks, he persuaded Americans into accepting rations for food, he involved women in the war effort, he was even able to sway them into buying government bonds (liberty bonds) to fund the war. In the end, through his use of propaganda, President Woodrow Wilson was ironically able to change the popular American opinion and convince Americans to support World War 1. Propaganda, as defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is the “spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person.” It is always biased towards a view or idea. Governments employ propaganda to sway public opinions towards supporting a cause. The use of propaganda...
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...HIS 104 Key Terms * Thirteenth Amendment * The amendment to the US Constitution that abolished slavery. The abolishment of slavery was the final blow to the South during the civil war and was an attempt to secure the future of the nation by making sure that the institution of slavery, which was the ultimate cause of the civil war, could never cause a civil war in the US ever again. This was the first time slavery was mentioned in the Constitution * Fourteenth Amendment * The amendment to the US Constitution during the reconstruction period that promised civil rights to everyone, including persons of color. This amendment elevated former slaves to the same status as everyone else. * Fifteenth Amendment * An amendment to the US Constitution during the reconstruction period that prohibited states from denying men the right to vote on the grounds of race or color. This amendment allowed black men to vote in the United States. * Henry Ford * Inventor of the Model-T car during the industrial revolution. Changed American culture * Scientific Management * Also known as Taylorism, a new method of assembly line production, making factories more efficient during the American Industrial Revolution, designed by Frederick Taylor. The first person to use this method was Henry Ford for the Model-T car. * Thomas Edison * The inventor of the light bulb. This changed the life of many Americans, as it eventually led to the rise...
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...WW1 was very important in the short term for bringing about social, political and economic change for the duration of the war. However, these changes largely were of little importance in the long term and only benefited a minority of women after the war. Indeed, the changes that were already happening before the war were of similar importance with WW1 arguably delaying the changes to the position of women in society. Firstly, world war one was important politically, economically and social in changing the position of women in the short term. Women’s roles were drastically changed throughout the war for the better and took over many jobs that were previously only done by men. Economically women prospered due to full employment and 250,000 converted themselves from peacetime to wartime jobs almost immediately. 1 million women entered the workforce and 80% of all workers in shell factories by 1918 were women. They also took on more educated roles and the amount of women in financial-based jobs grew by 600%. The growth in working women also impacted women socially, with an influx of short hair and short skirts. The traditional social restraints were relaxed and most women became the main breadwinner within their household. Women were appearing as an influential gender and they were shedding their ‘weaker sex’ label. This inspiring the suffragette campaign for votes for women, with many controversial politicians being won round, even asquith. In 1916 J.L Gavin claimed “the modern...
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...Impact on women and women at war • With younger women directed to factories, and older women encouraged to volunteer in organisations such as the Women’s Voluntary Service, women played a key role in the war • From 1940 women were directed into sectors of the economy where there was a shortage of labour (eg. shipyards, docks, factories and hospitals) • By the end of 1943, 50% of all factory workers were women • Also, by the end of 1943, 80% of married women were working as well as playing their role in the household • Average earnings for women almost doubled from 1938 – 1945 • Over 500,000 women served in the auxiliary branches of the armed forces • Women employed in industry, commerce and the armed forces rose by 50% to 2 ¼ million by 1943 • Overall, 1 ¼ million men and women volunteered in the war by July 1940 • The National Service Act (December 1941) conscripted unmarried women into the Force’s Auxiliary Corps • However, despite the war giving women more money, greater status and independence, it did not bring around equal pay • After WW1 most women gave up their wartime jobs, however after WW2 a much higher percentage of women kept their jobs • Moreover, sexual relationships flourished / increased over the war period Social levelling and breaking down of class barriers • One of the main aspects of WW2 was social mobility • Conscription was introduced in September 1940 (men aged 18 to 41) • By mid 1941, the army, navy and air...
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...How were the lives of women on the home front affected by the First World War? WW1 broke out in August 1914 when the great powers of Europe went to war over territorial competition to increase their empires. The war was mainly fought in continental Europe. By 1918, after millions of deaths, the Germans were defeated. The role of women in Britain had changed in many ways during the war. Before the war many working class women worked in mills in northern, industrial towns, always as a menial labour force - never in any sort of authoritative or responsible position and always supervised by men. However this sort of manual labour, especially after marriage, was frowned upon by many. This meant that the main sort of socially acceptable jobs for women were in areas such as domestic service or shop work. Source 5 is a quote from Alfred Shears, a former London dock worker who was interviewed for a book on women's history in 1974. It is a primary source written in his exact words. His view backs up the ideas in the last paragraph and is probably quite typical of men at the time. He said, "Single women would be working in the shops, but a married woman - her place was in the home." However during the war the amount of women in all areas of work increased apart from domestic service which saw a major decrease between 1914 and 1918. This is shown by source 1 which is a graph of the official statistics comparing the numbers of women working in 1914 to those in 1918. It is split...
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...when the fighters returned home they moved out of the urban areas to go live in rural areas and start new houses there. People discovered their own lives changing as modern America changed. Less laborers delivered merchandise; more gave administrations. By 1956 a greater part held salaried occupations, acting as corporate directors, educators, salespersons and office workers. The welfare state created many known as Women's Work as men would work in bank or as nurses or doctors and houses and less in farming and hard-working back labor. This created a little tension as woman's job started going down because jobs were still a little bit segregated after the World War II Women were praised for their wartime work, but expected to make way for the returning troops. As after WW1, there was an assumption that their temporary roles had been specifically linked to wartime. The government encouraged a return to domesticity. By 1951 the number of working women had returned almost to the...
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...During World War One there was a huge spread of women’s rights and female suffrage all over the world as well as in Canada. Women’s rights in Canada were very different before, during, and after the first World War. Through restricted lifestyles and opportunities during WW1 and the 1920’s, women emerged from second class citizenship. Before the war, women were not even considered persons, until October of 1929 when the judgment was made following a petition from the Famous Five. However, womens’ roles started to change once World War One had began, finally bringing a breakthrough for women. They were soon needed to help with the war by filling the gaps for the men who went to fight in war. This soon started to change everything for women. Without the opportunities given to women during the war, they would not have the rights and freedoms which they have today. Firstly, prior to the first world war, women led sheltered and restricted lives....
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