What was a women's home life like during the war?
During the war, the margin between rich and poor expanded. This was because the poor women had to get a job to pay for the food and daily necessities, do all the housework and look after the children. The rich benefited from all the new clothing and appliances. For the women who were expected to marry and have children there were very few potential partners as out of 416,000 men that went overseas 60,000 men were killed in the war and 150,000 wounded. This then left few appropriate bachelors as the men left were often unfit, sick or unable to care for a family.
Since there weren't many men, women’s education became more valued and began to have a future. Additionally, the women needed to fulfill men’s roles. Because so many of the soldiers never returned the women had to keep their jobs. Even though the women were expected to do men’s jobs, they could be paid up to 50% less. This caused problems for the soldiers coming back from the war because the employers weren't looking for men; they were only looking for women because they could be paid less. However, as there were no women’s unions, the women could be fired when they got married or a man came to fill the role. (8, 10 & 12 Meanwood st, Leeds. Right front view)
Since there weren't many men, women’s education became more valued and began to have a future. Additionally, the women needed to fulfill men’s roles. Because so many of the soldiers never returned the women had to keep their jobs. Even though the women were expected to do men’s jobs, they could be paid up to 50% less. This caused problems for the soldiers coming back from the war because the employers weren't looking for men; they were only looking for women because they could be paid less. However, as there were no women’s unions, the women could be fired when they got married or a man came to fill the role. (8, 10 & 12 Meanwood st, Leeds. Right front view)
Clothing Changes
During the war, bathing suits changed from being conservative and body covering to more about the practicality of them while swimming. Also during this time, trench coats were invented and named as waterproof and breathable. They were then adopted by women and are now a popular trend (Muñoz, 2013)
Women's Emotions
The war was very emotionally stressful. The primary contact between soldiers and people in Australia was letters and they could take months to get there. Unfortunately, the letters were likely to get lost in the post and would never be received. Many families were unaware of what the war was like because the Government censored the post and newsletters. The main purpose of doing this was to keep information from the enemy, but it eventually changed to being more about preventing panic in Australia about the conditions of the fighting (see censorship). For many, the only time they would receive news about their loved one would be when a clergyman showed up at their door with a telegram informing them of their death.
Women's Equality
In some ways, Australian women had more rights and respect than other countries, but they were also at a disadvantage. A positive was that during WW1, Australia, New Zealand and some Scandinavian countries were the only countries who allowed women to vote. However on average, women received a wage 54% lower than men, and their main role was still seen to be in home, doing domestic duties and raising children.
How did women react to censorship?
“Censorship is the restriction of what people can say, hear, see or read” (Robert Darlington, 2012)
Letters were censored so the people on the home front didn’t know the real conditions of the war. This would have affected them because they didn’t know the extent of their loved one’s suffering and they also thought that the soldier’s living conditions weren’t as bad as they were. The government said that censorship was essential as it kept morale high, and kept vital information from the enemies. This then changed to be more about protecting people’s opinions and thoughts on the war. A man went to prison for 1 year because of a cartoon he wrote and the government thought that it might harm the recruitment rates (Robert Darlington, 2012).
Letters were censored so the people on the home front didn’t know the real conditions of the war. This would have affected them because they didn’t know the extent of their loved one’s suffering and they also thought that the soldier’s living conditions weren’t as bad as they were. The government said that censorship was essential as it kept morale high, and kept vital information from the enemies. This then changed to be more about protecting people’s opinions and thoughts on the war. A man went to prison for 1 year because of a cartoon he wrote and the government thought that it might harm the recruitment rates (Robert Darlington, 2012).