Role of WomenRole of WomenDuring World War IDuring World War I

By: McKenzie SpdaccinoBy: McKenzie Spdaccino

Wartime NeedsWartime Needs Women filled many jobs brought into the existence by wartime needs Women filled many jobs brought into the existence by wartime needs

(“Women and the First World War”). (“Women and the First World War”). Industries that had previously excluded women now welcomed them, Industries that had previously excluded women now welcomed them,

because without them they wouldn’t have anyone to fill the jobs while because without them they wouldn’t have anyone to fill the jobs while men were overseas (“Women and the First World War”).men were overseas (“Women and the First World War”).

The federal government created the Women in Industry Service Bureau The federal government created the Women in Industry Service Bureau to oversee the employment conditions of women (Cullen-DuPont).to oversee the employment conditions of women (Cullen-DuPont).

Their JobsTheir Jobs

Nearly 200,000 women were employed Nearly 200,000 women were employed in government departments (Women and in government departments (Women and the First World War”).the First World War”).

Half a million became clerical workers Half a million became clerical workers in private offices or worked as in private offices or worked as conductors on trams and buses (“Women conductors on trams and buses (“Women and the First World War”).and the First World War”).

Female clerical workers were allowed to Female clerical workers were allowed to enlist directly as yeomen or marines in enlist directly as yeomen or marines in the Naval or Marine Corps Reserve. Also the Naval or Marine Corps Reserve. Also received the same pay as male yeomen received the same pay as male yeomen (Keene).(Keene).

Jobs Continued…Jobs Continued… The greatest increase of women The greatest increase of women

workers was in engineering. Over workers was in engineering. Over 700,000 of these women worked 700,000 of these women worked in the highly dangerous munitions in the highly dangerous munitions industry (“Women and the First industry (“Women and the First World War”).World War”).

It was a particular demand for It was a particular demand for women to do heavy work such as women to do heavy work such as unloading coal, stocking furnaces, unloading coal, stocking furnaces, and building ships (“Women and and building ships (“Women and the First World War”).the First World War”).

Approximately 1,000 women Approximately 1,000 women were hired as independent were hired as independent contractors by the armed forces to contractors by the armed forces to work overseas as telephone work overseas as telephone operators, translators, and in other operators, translators, and in other capacities for the American capacities for the American Expeditionary Forces (Cullen-Expeditionary Forces (Cullen-DuPont).DuPont).

““Hello Girls”Hello Girls”

Women filled positions; such Women filled positions; such as, telephone operators as, telephone operators (affectionately nicknamed (affectionately nicknamed “Hello Girls”), and as typists, “Hello Girls”), and as typists, and as hostesses.and as hostesses.

Female telephone operators Female telephone operators lived in special houses lived in special houses established by the YWCA established by the YWCA where strict rules and where strict rules and regulations governed their off-regulations governed their off-duty hours.duty hours.

Around 500 telephone Around 500 telephone operators worked alongside operators worked alongside men in jobs that put a high men in jobs that put a high premium on their language and premium on their language and secretarial skills.secretarial skills.

(Keene)(Keene)

HostessesHostesses

Women who worked as hostesses performed a wide variety of tasks that included Women who worked as hostesses performed a wide variety of tasks that included baking and serving doughnuts, sewing buttons, running the canteen or library, baking and serving doughnuts, sewing buttons, running the canteen or library, writing letters for troops, organizing entertainment, or providing female writing letters for troops, organizing entertainment, or providing female companionship during dances.companionship during dances.

The most valued hostesses had pleasing personalities that excluded care and The most valued hostesses had pleasing personalities that excluded care and concern and enough organizational talent to provide wholesome recreational concern and enough organizational talent to provide wholesome recreational diversions for the troopsdiversions for the troops

Working alone, these hostesses put up mobile huts, built furniture, and secured Working alone, these hostesses put up mobile huts, built furniture, and secured needed supplies to open a canteen near the Division’s staging area.needed supplies to open a canteen near the Division’s staging area.

(Keene)(Keene)

Clerical WorkersClerical Workers

Clerical workers worked alongside men in jobs that put a high premium on Clerical workers worked alongside men in jobs that put a high premium on their language and secretarial skills.their language and secretarial skills.

Women who lived in the special houses had to follow strict rules. The Women who lived in the special houses had to follow strict rules. The women needed passes to stay out after dark, had to travel in groups of two women needed passes to stay out after dark, had to travel in groups of two or more, and could not fraternize with enlisted men.or more, and could not fraternize with enlisted men.

Because they never held any official rank in the American Army, they Because they never held any official rank in the American Army, they were not eligible for veterans’ benefits after the warwere not eligible for veterans’ benefits after the war

(Keene)(Keene)

Well-Known WomenWell-Known Women

Opha May Johnson became Opha May Johnson became the first woman to join the the first woman to join the U.S. Marine Corps on U.S. Marine Corps on August 12, 1918, when she August 12, 1918, when she enlisted in the Reserves enlisted in the Reserves (Cullen-DuPont).(Cullen-DuPont).

Abby Putnam Morrison Abby Putnam Morrison became the first woman became the first woman naval electrician on October naval electrician on October 12, 1917, when she was 12, 1917, when she was assigned to the U.S. Navy’s assigned to the U.S. Navy’s Radio Bureau (Cullen-Radio Bureau (Cullen-DuPont).DuPont).

Dorothy Lawrence disguised Dorothy Lawrence disguised herself as a man and joined herself as a man and joined the British Army (“Dorothy the British Army (“Dorothy Lawrence”).Lawrence”).

Women Not AllowedWomen Not Allowed

Women were unable to serve as soldiers, Women were unable to serve as soldiers, unlike men. Nonetheless, women made unlike men. Nonetheless, women made significant contributions to the U.S. war significant contributions to the U.S. war effort (Cullen-DuPont).effort (Cullen-DuPont).

American women who went to work for American women who went to work for the army did so as civilian employees or the army did so as civilian employees or as volunteers in one of the official social as volunteers in one of the official social welfare agencies authorized to provide welfare agencies authorized to provide services to the troops (Keene).services to the troops (Keene).

Women were treated differently then Women were treated differently then men, and were not wanted by many men, and were not wanted by many factory owners. Even though those factory owners. Even though those factory owners had no employees factory owners had no employees (Keene).(Keene).

ExpectationsExpectations

Women who did services for the war had to wear, had Women who did services for the war had to wear, had to abide by military regulations, and were supervised to abide by military regulations, and were supervised directly by male army officers.directly by male army officers.

Hostesses: besides providing valuable services to the Hostesses: besides providing valuable services to the troops, female workers were also instructed to be troops, female workers were also instructed to be charming and friendly. Even after a long day’s work, charming and friendly. Even after a long day’s work, they were still expected to attend base dances.they were still expected to attend base dances.

Hostesses also strived to create a homelike Hostesses also strived to create a homelike environment that reminded the troops of the mothers environment that reminded the troops of the mothers and sisters they had left behind.and sisters they had left behind.

(Keene)(Keene)

Women’s Land ArmyWomen’s Land Army

The government decided that more The government decided that more women would have to become more women would have to become more involved in producing food and involved in producing food and goods to support their war effort. goods to support their war effort. Which included the establishment of Which included the establishment of the Women’s Land Army.the Women’s Land Army.

Some farmers resisted this measure, Some farmers resisted this measure, but the Board of Trade began to but the Board of Trade began to persuade farmers to accept women persuade farmers to accept women workers.workers.

By 1917 there were over 260,000 By 1917 there were over 260,000 women working as farm laborers.women working as farm laborers.

(“Women’s Land (“Women’s Land

Army”)Army”)

Women Voting Women Voting

When President Woodrow Wilson recommended that the Congress finally pass When President Woodrow Wilson recommended that the Congress finally pass the Nineteenth Amendment to allow women to vote, he noted that the nation the Nineteenth Amendment to allow women to vote, he noted that the nation owed women the vote as a reward for the vital contributions that they had made owed women the vote as a reward for the vital contributions that they had made to the war effort.to the war effort.

Female military service helped strengthen the case for suffrage after the war.Female military service helped strengthen the case for suffrage after the war. Besides advancing the campaign to grant women the vote, women’s military Besides advancing the campaign to grant women the vote, women’s military

service had several other lasting effects.service had several other lasting effects.

(Keene)(Keene)

Important Numbers to KnowImportant Numbers to Know

A tally published by the Women’s Overseas Service League said A tally published by the Women’s Overseas Service League said that 161 American women lost their lives while supporting the war that 161 American women lost their lives while supporting the war “over there” (Cullen-DuPont).“over there” (Cullen-DuPont).

6,000 women provided key staff support overseas (Keene).6,000 women provided key staff support overseas (Keene). By the end of World War I, nearly 13,000 women had served as By the end of World War I, nearly 13,000 women had served as

“Yeomen (Female)” in the Navy and Marine Corps (also known as “Yeomen (Female)” in the Navy and Marine Corps (also known as “Marinettes”) on equal status with male yeomen (Cullen-DuPont).“Marinettes”) on equal status with male yeomen (Cullen-DuPont).

Dorothy LawrenceDorothy Lawrence

Dorothy had a strong desire to become a journalist and Dorothy had a strong desire to become a journalist and she achieved some success with a few articles published she achieved some success with a few articles published in in The Times.The Times. Living in Paris when war was declared in Living in Paris when war was declared in 1914, Dorothy contacted several British newspapers 1914, Dorothy contacted several British newspapers offering to work as a war correspondent in France hoping offering to work as a war correspondent in France hoping to do what she loved, writing.to do what she loved, writing.

Every editor refused to employ a woman to do what they Every editor refused to employ a woman to do what they considered to be very dangerous work. She then went to considered to be very dangerous work. She then went to England in 1915, disguised herself as a man, and joined England in 1915, disguised herself as a man, and joined the British Army. the British Army.

By the name Denis Smith, Dorothy served only ten days By the name Denis Smith, Dorothy served only ten days in the British Expeditionary Force Tunneling Company in the British Expeditionary Force Tunneling Company on the Western Front before her true identity was on the Western Front before her true identity was discovered. Authorities detained her in a French convent discovered. Authorities detained her in a French convent until she agreed to promise to tell the public how she had until she agreed to promise to tell the public how she had fooled the army authorities.fooled the army authorities.

(“Dorothy Lawrence”)(“Dorothy Lawrence”)

Summing Everything UpSumming Everything Up

With growing numbers of men joining the British armed forces during the With growing numbers of men joining the British armed forces during the First World War, the country was desperately short of labor (“Women’s First World War, the country was desperately short of labor (“Women’s Land Army”).Land Army”).

During World War I, the marines also decided to open its ranks to women During World War I, the marines also decided to open its ranks to women (Cullen-DuPont).(Cullen-DuPont).

Toward the end of the war, the navy, facing a critical clerical shortage, Toward the end of the war, the navy, facing a critical clerical shortage, investigated enlistment laws and found a loophole that permitted the investigated enlistment laws and found a loophole that permitted the admission of women to its ranks (Cullen-DuPont).admission of women to its ranks (Cullen-DuPont).

Continued…Continued…

In earlier wars, women made substantial contributions outside the purview In earlier wars, women made substantial contributions outside the purview of the military itself. In this case, however, the U.S. government tried to of the military itself. In this case, however, the U.S. government tried to lend its support: As women on the home front replaced men in factories, on lend its support: As women on the home front replaced men in factories, on farms, and even in the country’s mines, and steel mills (Cullen-DuPont).farms, and even in the country’s mines, and steel mills (Cullen-DuPont).

Many thousands of the military nurses served within the United States, on Many thousands of the military nurses served within the United States, on hospital ships, and in Europe (Cullen-DuPont).hospital ships, and in Europe (Cullen-DuPont).

Hostesses usually worked under the supervision of male war workers. Hostesses usually worked under the supervision of male war workers. Others were assigned to specific Divisions, and, when the Division moved, Others were assigned to specific Divisions, and, when the Division moved, they followed (Keene).they followed (Keene).

Work CitedWork Cited

““Women and the First World War.” Women and the First World War.” Spartacus Educational.Spartacus Educational. Peter McMillan, n.d. Web. Peter McMillan, n.d. Web.

19 Dec. 2012. 19 Dec. 2012. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Wfirst.htmhttp://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Wfirst.htm..

Keene, Jennifer D. “Women’s Support Staff Roles in the U.S. Military: World War I.” Keene, Jennifer D. “Women’s Support Staff Roles in the U.S. Military: World War I.” Daily Life Daily Life through History.through History.ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 18 Dec. 2012ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 18 Dec. 2012

Cullen-DuPont, Kathryn. “military service, women and.” Cullen-DuPont, Kathryn. “military service, women and.” Encyclopedia of Women’s History in Encyclopedia of Women’s History in

America, Second Edition. America, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2000 New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2000 American Women’s HistoryAmerican Women’s History

Online. Online. Facts On File, Inc. Facts On File, Inc. http://www/fofweb.com/activelink2.asphttp://www/fofweb.com/activelink2.asp??

ItemID=WE42&iPin=awhm0267&SingleRecord=True (accessed December 18, 2012).ItemID=WE42&iPin=awhm0267&SingleRecord=True (accessed December 18, 2012).

““Dorothy Lawrence.” Dorothy Lawrence.” Spartacus Educational. Spartacus Educational. Peter McMillan, n.d. Web. 19 Dec. 2012.Peter McMillan, n.d. Web. 19 Dec. 2012.

<<http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWlawrenceD.htmhttp://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWlawrenceD.htm>.>.

““Women’s Land Army.” Women’s Land Army.” Spartacus Educational. Spartacus Educational. Peter McMillan, n.d. Web. 19 Dec. 2012.Peter McMillan, n.d. Web. 19 Dec. 2012.

<<http://http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Wland.htmwww.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Wland.htm>.>.