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 state must rely on men and women alike”, a huge step in the right direction, essentially leading to the Representation of the peoples Act 1918 which allowed women over the age of 30 to cast their vote in elections. This highlighting the significant role WW1 played in the changing role of women within society.
However there were also many criticisms of the war, as in the long term much of the progress made by women was quickly reversed after the end of the war. Throughout the war women were always seen as the emergency reserve workforce to stop the economy crumbling and even then they were not allowed to work in the coalmines or on the docks, the traditional idea that many people still strongly believed in was that the role of a woman was in the home. Any radical ideas about the changing position of women in society due to the war were quickly overturned, with them gaining very little overall. There was still no equal pay and despite women over 30 gaining the vote, the majority of the women working in factories didn’t gain the vote due to the working class still having no rights. They role of women in WW1 arguably had a negative impact due to many women were killed or injured in shell factory explosions with more than 100 dying from diseases contracted from their jobs. Suggesting that the significance of the war in influencing the role of women in society, was large however not positive. **
Although world war one played an important role in the changing position of women, another affecting factor that must be considered is the role of women in pre-war society. Many social changes had begun way before the war began and may have even caused a delay in many pre-war discussions, especially with regards to the suffragette movement which had begun and reached its peak in July 1913, the was essentially delayed women gaining the vote. There had also already begun an expansion of employment for women and it would be wrong to claim that women being employed was solely down to the war. Conveying the idea that the role of women was not significantly changed by the war it just appeared so at the time.
To conclude, despite the role of women being influenced significantly by the war, I think these changes would have taken place even if the war hadn’t. I do not think the war played a huge role in the development of rights for women and I think it put them at a political and economic disadvantage, despite the recognition of the fact women are capable of completing manual labour. It is clear that in the short term, the role of women was completely altered however in the long term very little changed, with there still being 1.2 million women servants in 1918. Overall, I do not think WW1 was very significant in the changing role of women in society due to the changes already occurring and also the lack of acknowledgment for the working class whom contributed the most to the war effort.