World war one was a turning point in human history, especially in women’s role in society. While in other nations, the change was more obvious, in Australia a great shift in the responsibilities of women can be seen through their efforts to support the war. In war stricken countries, society had defined male service to the nation as combat. Most nations also called upon and celebrated women as mothers, the representative of family life and domesticity. However, by the end of the Great War, women had through their………. had disproved the typical stereotype and instead have become a symbol of earlier feminism. Overall The Great War brought about the most substantial change in women’s roles.

For all of women’s extensive and varied war work, most public celebrations of their contributions underlined that such labor was part of ‘doing their bit for the duration’.

Although it is not always realised, equality for women has come a long way in only a short period of time. At the time of World War I, Australia, New Zealand and a few other Scandinavian countries were the only nations who gave women the right to vote. Yet in Australia, women still received a wage 54 percent lower than that of their male counterparts. Their role was still seen to be in the home, performing domestic duties and raising the children.

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Australia in 1916 was divided on the conscription debate. On either side, women campaigned, usually through handing out pro- and anti-conscription propaganda leaflets. Many joined the Women’s Peace Army, an organisation that mobilised the women of Australia to ‘war against war'. Many women were also actively involved in encouraging men to enlist and were often used in recruiting propaganda. Some women put great pressure on men by sending white feathers, a symbol of cowardice, to local men in the community who had not