Australian Women

Australia entered the war in 1939 and it became at their doorstep on the 19th February 1942, Nazi Germany and Japan were major enemies to Australia during the war. Australia’s foreign policy and changing alliance during 1942 impacted our national identity because Australia developed a new relationship with America, while it weakened the strong connection with Britain, which demonstrates that Australia was starting to become its own independent country. At the beginning of war, Australia had a strong relationship and alliance with Britain, making Britain their leaders when entering the war. Secondly, as the war progressed Australia began to look to America as an opportunity for protection from the Japanese, while Britain was fighting their own

Many historians disagree on which historical event was key in shaping the Australian identity. Two common answers are Federation, and the fall-out of World War One. Both events have had significant impact on the evolving identity of the Australian people. World War I was a military conflict that lasted for the four years between July 1914 and November 1918. World War One was a force of change due to the nature of Australia's involvement at home and in politics. Prime Minister Billy Hughes came to power just six months after the start of the war. This meant that as a politician, he held a significant sway with the Australian public. Both Hughes and the media influences at the time are key aspects of the Australian identity during the war, and

World War Two saw many successful battles for Australia. In 1942, Australia’s foreign policy was changed so that Australian soldiers were only sent between the 110th and 159th meridians (Britannica, 2015). This restricted them to only battles against the Japanese, fighting for their nation’s wellbeing. These battles played a huge role in the destruction of the Japanese forces. Australia played a secondary role in the battle of Kokoda Trail, after America (Britannica, 2015). Conflicts such as this impacted Australia’s national identity

Women in the armed forces and social welfare programs both brought advantages to non working civilians. World war 2 was the time that women were given new opportunities to help in the war. The Canadian Women Army corps was one of the women divisions, and had more than 50% of the 50000 women who had enlisted in the program were involved in this section. The women helped on foot with basic essential tasks, for instance, cooking and preparing meals as well as washing the laundry. Having the women take on these jobs gave the men more time to spend the majority of their time fighting at battle and less or the time spent having to take care of their minor needs. Eventually women started to take on more severe male jobs, they worked as mechanics and also had the task of driving around the ambulance cars and other important vehicles around the fields. Next to these women who both stayed in Canada and travelled overseas, there were also those who took part in the Canadian Women Airforce. The women in this sector had been trained for administrative and support roles, although on top of this women proceeded to work in other positions as the war continued. They were working as parachute riggers, lab assistants, and in all the mechanical and electrical areas. The wage for women increased due to their joining of the higher male jobs and aircraft business. The third area

“The effects of the war were also felt at home. Families and communities grieved fro the loss of so many men, and women increasingly assumed the physical and financial burden of farming for families.” (Australia War Memorial, n.d.) As a result of the war, there was a sharp decrease in men within the workforce, women being the only option left that employers could choose from. Women also went to work to provide for the family.

Australian Women in the workforce: What jobs were available for women in world war 2 and how did the end of the war impact Australian Women in the workforce?

Throughout different stages of the war Australia and America supported each other. Evidently strengthening their alliance which today has a major influence on the culture and society of

By 1943, approximately 261,000 women were involved in the production of war goods, accounting for more than 30 per cent of the aircraft industry, close to 50 per cent of the employees in many gun plants, and a distinct majority in munitions inspection (Anderson). Although their wages increased during the years of war, they never equalled men's; in the munitions factories women's wages were 50-80% of those paid men (Anderson). Despite the movement of women into a few new areas of the economy, domestic service remained the most common female occupation. It seemed that in wartime, women's labour was essential in order to provide support for the men and resources needed, but in peace it was expendable. Women also worked to ensure a thriving, or at least a surviving, home economy.

In Australia, from 1930’s onwards, Australia faced many dangers associated with the war. Before WWII, Australia faced economic threats, from the Great Depression, as well as threats from other countries, with the rise of Germany. At the commencement of WWII, Australia began to feel the threat of Japan. Australia battled these threats with a sense of national pride and prominent individuals who greatly assisted during the war.

When the war broke out, women went to their own expense to go and help the wounded overseas (Victoria, 2018). Military Nurses were considered a suitable job for Australian women during this war (Anitha S. , 2004). Others worked in field hospitals. Women apparently were not allowed to work near the front line until a doctor/ Scottish suffragist, Elsie Inglis, suggested that women’s medical units should most defiantly serve on the western front. People told her to “go home and sit still,” which was a very common thing for people to say at the time.

There is an extremely diverse issue of the impact World War 2 had upon the lives of women in Australia. On one hand, women contributed massively to the war effort, as seen in source A and further sources. However, in source B, we see that they were also made ‘fun of’ and were valued as less than men. The main roles that women played before World War two changed tremendously as women took over previously male occupations as well as their own to free men to combat services. Whilst Australian women were not allowed to actually fight in battle, they assisted enormously to the war effort. Finally, a major impact of all of their services was the issue of gender inequality. So, overall the impacts were neither positive nor negative as stated in the points below.

In this essay I will examine the impact that WWI had on Australia in the areas of social, political, economic and technological. I will further examine the contribution that WWI played towards making Australia the nation that it is today. Australia was first involved in WWI in 1915, this meant changes to the lives of people out on the battlefields and even back home in Australia. However the changes didn't end when the gun shoots fell silent but was continue for years, when the soldiers returned with their problems as a result of the war. WWI had a huge effect on the work class Australia women.

After the 7 December 1941 Australia felt a threat to their security. They felt this because of the attack on pearl harbour. War in the Pacific began with Japan's surprise

The australian women that stayed home contributed by taking on voluntary comfort and fundraising roles to support troops. Although not all women took this type of role for helping their men in war, as the tension developed over some patriotic, propaganda and political roles undertaken by women.

Before the first world war began, Australia was colonised by the Europeans. Accordingly since no treaties were made between the native Australians and Europeans they were not given any recognition for their own rights. They were even simply exempted from things such as the military for being dark skinned. World War One was most importantly seen as a crucial development for these people.