the new roles of women
After the outbreak of World War 2, women's roles regarding their contribution to the war effort and responsibilities at home changed drastically. Women still had the same responsibilities at home, e.g. looking after children, cleaning, cooking but they also had to deal with the consequences of war: family responsibilities alone, shortages of resources, fears for the future and grief and trauma of losing loved ones. Many women wanted to contribute to the war effort and took on jobs like nursing, military service, working in factories, shipyards or being official war artists. There were also many organisations that encouraged women to join them, like:
THE GOVERNMENT SAYS 'NO'
Many women also wanted to contribute through working in place of men, in factories and shipyards but political groups and the government resisted this idea. Women began to oppose this resistance and grouped together to protest. When Australia reached its point of desperation, the government finally allowed women to work instead of men so that they could be freed from their jobs and become soldiers in the army. Women were allowed to take on men's jobs, but only those that would aid the war effort. Women were still paid at lower rates than men (approximately two thirds of a man's wage) and they were expected to leave their jobs and return to home duties after the war.
FINDING NEW WORKERS
The government began campaigns and actively recruited women to take on jobs originally meant for men. There were campaigns held, posters made, and movies and newsreels began depicting women coming happily to work in factories to make bomb casings, tanks and parachutes. The campaigns even drew similarities between the things that women would usually do to work that they would do in the factory. One example is women filing nails, compared to women filing the inside of munitions casings.
Women also joined auxiliary branches of the armed services, like:
AUXILIARY BRANCHES
The AWLA was established in June 1942 in response to labour shortages in country areas, particularly farms. Since there were no more workers, there would not be enough food to feed the soldiers and civilians. The AWLA recruited women to work on farms where there were no more men to do the work. Women took on jobs like ploughing, harvesting and milking cows.
Some women also became nurses, but it was a dangerous service during the war. Many Australian nurses were stationed in Singapore, the base of Allied forces of the Pacific. After the Japanese took over Singapore, hundreds of nurses were taken as prisoners of war.
Around 78 000 women enlisted in the various services and 6000 women were posted overseas for service with the Australian army forces during the War. Service in the armed forces was another opportunity to experience life outside the household in World War II.
By early 1945, 4000 women were working in signals and communications, 3000 as cooks and domestic servants, and 1500 women worked as mechanics on aircraft in other technical support jobs and as aircraft ground staff.
NOT JUST MANUAL LABOUR
Not all women contributed to the war effort through enlisting in auxiliary branches or organisations. Some women were unable to work, and instead they stayed at home. Women who could not work would take care of the children of other women who did and grow gardens for food, participate in fundraisers and make clothes for the soldiers fighting overseas. The government also encouraged women to grow their own produce and can it, so that rationing would not affect their supply of food.
Some women also became artists or writers showing and documenting their experiences of the war. The Australian government appointed Official War Artists, some of which were women. Some of these artists included Sybil Craig, Nora Heysen and Stella Bowen. Their impressions of WW2 are currently held at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
Many women wrote letters, diaries and other written accounts to convey their experiences of various conflicts and war. Betty Jeffrey wrote a book called White Coolies (1945) about her experiences as a nurse being held by the Japanese. Jessie Simon wrote a book called While History Passed (1954) which was also about her experiences as a nurse during WW2.
A handful of women were entertainers during WW2, like Connie Hobbs. These women were actresses or entertainers during WW2 who would tour theatres of war, entertaining the troops. Connie was an actress who travelled more than 20000 kilometres through India, Syria, Egypt, Lybia, Tripoli and Iraq to entertain and amuse the Australian troops.
THE CONSCRIPTION ISSUE
During WW2, there was also conflict regarding conscription in Australia. Women were divided; some were for conscription while others were against it. Women held campaigns to support their opinions, joined forces and held marches, rallies and petitions. This shows how much WW2 had changed the roles of women; before WW2 women rarely spoke up about their opinions and ideas and had less freedom regarding free speech.
- The Australian Red Cross
- The Country Women's Association
- The Women's Christian Temperance Union
- The Australian Women's National League
- The Voluntary Aid Detachment
- The Australian Comforts Fund
- The Cheer-Up Society
THE GOVERNMENT SAYS 'NO'
Many women also wanted to contribute through working in place of men, in factories and shipyards but political groups and the government resisted this idea. Women began to oppose this resistance and grouped together to protest. When Australia reached its point of desperation, the government finally allowed women to work instead of men so that they could be freed from their jobs and become soldiers in the army. Women were allowed to take on men's jobs, but only those that would aid the war effort. Women were still paid at lower rates than men (approximately two thirds of a man's wage) and they were expected to leave their jobs and return to home duties after the war.
FINDING NEW WORKERS
The government began campaigns and actively recruited women to take on jobs originally meant for men. There were campaigns held, posters made, and movies and newsreels began depicting women coming happily to work in factories to make bomb casings, tanks and parachutes. The campaigns even drew similarities between the things that women would usually do to work that they would do in the factory. One example is women filing nails, compared to women filing the inside of munitions casings.
Women also joined auxiliary branches of the armed services, like:
- The Australian Women's Land Army (AWLA)
- The Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS)
- The Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS)
- The Women's Australian Auxiliary Air Force (WAAAF)
AUXILIARY BRANCHES
The AWLA was established in June 1942 in response to labour shortages in country areas, particularly farms. Since there were no more workers, there would not be enough food to feed the soldiers and civilians. The AWLA recruited women to work on farms where there were no more men to do the work. Women took on jobs like ploughing, harvesting and milking cows.
Some women also became nurses, but it was a dangerous service during the war. Many Australian nurses were stationed in Singapore, the base of Allied forces of the Pacific. After the Japanese took over Singapore, hundreds of nurses were taken as prisoners of war.
Around 78 000 women enlisted in the various services and 6000 women were posted overseas for service with the Australian army forces during the War. Service in the armed forces was another opportunity to experience life outside the household in World War II.
By early 1945, 4000 women were working in signals and communications, 3000 as cooks and domestic servants, and 1500 women worked as mechanics on aircraft in other technical support jobs and as aircraft ground staff.
NOT JUST MANUAL LABOUR
Not all women contributed to the war effort through enlisting in auxiliary branches or organisations. Some women were unable to work, and instead they stayed at home. Women who could not work would take care of the children of other women who did and grow gardens for food, participate in fundraisers and make clothes for the soldiers fighting overseas. The government also encouraged women to grow their own produce and can it, so that rationing would not affect their supply of food.
Some women also became artists or writers showing and documenting their experiences of the war. The Australian government appointed Official War Artists, some of which were women. Some of these artists included Sybil Craig, Nora Heysen and Stella Bowen. Their impressions of WW2 are currently held at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
Many women wrote letters, diaries and other written accounts to convey their experiences of various conflicts and war. Betty Jeffrey wrote a book called White Coolies (1945) about her experiences as a nurse being held by the Japanese. Jessie Simon wrote a book called While History Passed (1954) which was also about her experiences as a nurse during WW2.
A handful of women were entertainers during WW2, like Connie Hobbs. These women were actresses or entertainers during WW2 who would tour theatres of war, entertaining the troops. Connie was an actress who travelled more than 20000 kilometres through India, Syria, Egypt, Lybia, Tripoli and Iraq to entertain and amuse the Australian troops.
THE CONSCRIPTION ISSUE
During WW2, there was also conflict regarding conscription in Australia. Women were divided; some were for conscription while others were against it. Women held campaigns to support their opinions, joined forces and held marches, rallies and petitions. This shows how much WW2 had changed the roles of women; before WW2 women rarely spoke up about their opinions and ideas and had less freedom regarding free speech.