The Female Gender Sphere

Before, During and After the Second World War

Discussion You should have three sticky notes on

your desk, answer each question on a separate sticky note.

Before the Second World War where do you picture a woman?

Where do you see a woman during the Second World War?

Where do you see a woman after the Second World War?

Once you’ve answered, post your sticky notes up on the board and see if you can group them together with your fellow classmates

A Woman Before the Second World War

Restricted to their gender sphere

Stay at home No income of

their own Relied on

their husbands

During the War The men were sent to war yet the

war effort at home still needed to continue Factories Farms Commercial businesses Food in general Clothing

Women were recruited to work on several fronts during the Second World War

Women at Home Code Breaking and Espionage Recruited for the navy and royal air

force Ammunition factories Constructing air planes conserving food Making clothes Taking over family farms Raising funds to finance hospitals,

ambulances and hostels Overall, women helped maintain the Canadian economy

Recruitment Film

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgVdUBLb6K8

What did you take away? After watching the film, were there

any phrases, words or parts that stood out to you?

If you were a woman, would you want to go sign up for a job now?

The NFB and the Profile of Female Workers How does this

photo reject the female gender sphere? (Let’s talk)

This is also the Bren Girl.How does this picture contrast the other?

Rosie The Riveter

Women on the Home Front Women were in the work force

during the war How were women photographed

in means of actually recruiting them?

How were recruitment videos used to relate to women?

What about today? Do these images relate to Rosie and Veronica (Bren Girl)?

Activity Using a personal device, google careers for

females. What are the first three careers that pop up? Are these generalized ‘female’ jobs?

If you’re looking at photos, what do the women look like?

Why do you think these ideas are prevalent?

How is it connected to The Bren Girl or Rosie the Riveter?

You have 10-15 minutes to discuss with an elbow partner and then we will be having an open discussion.