How Did The War Impact Australian Women In The Workforce

How did WWII change the role and status of women in the long term in Australia?

Currie, Wendy., & Adamson, Margaret. (1977) Women of Australia ? Shaping our History. Macmillan Education Australia, Pty Limited

Many people still thought that a woman's place was "in the kitchen", this changed shortly after the second world war. 500,000 women joined the workforce post WW1 because all of the men had gone to war. This set Australia up and benefited from more people with a wider experience in many jobs.

During World War I, the Australian home front was impacted by a long and varying list of occurrences during the period of time between the years of 1914 to 1918. The home front was influenced politically through the arguments over the conscription vote and as Australia became divided between the different war beliefs. It was also influenced by social change, as the use of censorship drastically altered the Australians’ views of war and women began to pick up odd jobs in order to assist the soldiers as very few of them were allowed to directly help as nurses in Gallipoli. There were also extreme economic alterations as the wages in Australia were pushed down and prices were pushed up, and the country discarded major trade partners who had become their enemy.

The Second World War commenced in 1939 to 1945. Australia’s involvement in the Second World War was announced by Prime Minister Robert Gordon Menzies on the 3rd of September 1939. Roughly one million Australian men and women served the World War passionately guarding its allies. Australia took part in many campaigns during the Second World War in Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa, South-East Asia and the Pacific regions. Many notable defence units that were involved in the Second World War: Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Air Force. Women were privileged as they are given more employment opportunities, especially contributed in war efforts. Women were assigned in nursing, Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force, Women’s Royal Australian Navy Service and The Australian Women’s Army Service. Australia has contributed as part of the Asian region protecting its neighbours. One of Australia’s significant involvement within the Asian region was the Battle of Singapore in 1942 supporting the British Empire forces. On account of Australia’s involvement, it has positively shaped our relationship with the Asia region today. Immigration policy has changed as Australia accepts refugees to support Asia, introduced trade networks and alliances with Asian defences.

One impact of world war two on Australian women was that women started to get employed and got jobs outside the home. As all of the men were overseas fighting fir Australia there were holes in job force? all over Australia. As a result of this women were given all of the jobs that men used to have. As shown in source A it says that “women felt no compunction in becoming cogs in Australia’s war machine” This reveals that women were willing and ready to serve in the job

The War, did not only effect men fighting, but also the roles of women on the home front. As most men on farms and factories were taken by the Australian Imperial Force,

Before World War 1 broke out in 1914 the expected roll of a woman was to raise the children and manage the home. They were also encouraged to join voluntary organisations. For example: The Red Cross, Australian comforts fund, the cheer up society, Aid detachment Country women’s association.

Healthcare is highly regarded in Australia as a nationally growing industry that is always thought to as high priority. Nursing history is a big part of the knowledge base that Registered Nurses must contain to be able provide educated care. Australia’s access to healthcare has grown and is still growing. Nursing first began in 1954 with Florence Nightgale and her team of 38 volunteers started organising equipment at a Turkish hospital (Bradford, 2009). Many factors of history then changed nursing not just in Australia but all around the world. Events such as : Wars, Diversity in Australia, Union Movement, Industrialisation, Hygiene Movement, Civil rights and peace, Women’s Movement and community healthcare Movement. Three of these events will be outlined and explored throughout this essay: War, Diversity in Australia and civil rights and peace. Each of these has changed the way that nurses go about their role and how Healthcare has changed.

This investigation will explore the question: To what extent did women working factory jobs change feminine roles in society? The years from 1939 to 1945 will be the focus of this investigation, to allow for an analysis of women’s employment before and during the war.

Around 3000 Australian nurses served  as part of the Australian Army Nursing Service in places as diverse as Egypt, England, France, Gallipoli, Italy, Burma, Salonika and India.   Many worked in British hospitals or in British army nursing units, and later with Australian units, as well as hospital ships and in Australian hospitals for the wounded

World War Two (WW2) broke out in 1939 and would have great effect on the Australian Home Front. The impact was particularly felt by women and their role in society changed to a significant extent. These changes are clearly evident from many factors that took place during the course of the war although, the most significant changes were due to the introduction of women to the predominantly male orientated workforce, fashion change and restrictions and the ‘friendly invasion’ of the American troops. Through identifying these changes it is clear to see how the role and perception of Australian women was completely changed.

Women’s employment rates increased during WWI, from 23.6% in 1914 to between 37.7% and 46.7% in 1918. The employment of married women increased sharply – accounting for nearly 40% of all women workers by 1918.

In the factual and fictional worlds of espionage, the roles of women varied greatly. There were many ways women contributed to the war effort and were considered perfect for the role of a spy because they were seen as innocent and non-threatening by soldiers from opposing armies. Throughout the years of the war, women became excellent covert agents taking on major roles both behind the scenes and on the fringes of espionage activity. Espionage has often been portrayed as a male-dominated profession, but because men had to leave to fight for their country, the government turned to women to take on roles within the world of espionage. This was no problem for women, as they have always traditionally volunteered to help protect the nation. As capable and willing women were to take on the same roles as men, the war was never a place for a woman, due to the gender roles that were placed onto them. Misconceptions and stereotypes about the role of women in intelligence were branded by spy fiction, usually drawing from mythologies of novels and films such as Mata Hari and the ‘Bond Girls.’ Despite the disruption of the gender system branded by spy fiction, society wasn’t entirely gender blind and has changed its perception of women in espionage.

The Impact that the Second World War Had on the Lives of Women in Britain