The Role of Women During WW1 Friday, October 17 th, 2014 Women Before WW1 Women could not vote Women could not hold a public office in the government Employment opportunities for women were limited - nurse, teacher, secretary, stay at home wife Women were prohibited from joining the military forces Women During WW1 In Europe Women were prohibited from fighting, but they were able to: NURSE AMBULANCE DRIVER 3,000 Canadian women served as nurses overseas: TheBluebirds 46 died deliberate hospital bombing, shelling, disease, hostpital ship torpedoed These nurses saw A LOT of gruesome death and wounded men that were young Women During WW1 At Home With men going off to war, women took their places in the workforce They were able to work in factories, producing A LOT of: -Food -war materials -general supplies They assumed the role of man of the house: -managing family farm-taking care of family -making important decisions Women gained a sense of EMPOWERMENT & INDEPENDANCE If women in war factories stopped for 20 minutes, we should lose the war -French General Joseph Joffre Women and Politics Women were not able to vote up until 1917 Military Voters Act: allowed female members of the army (nurses) to vote in federal elections Wartime Elections Act: vote extended to mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives of Canadian men serving in Europe Impact influence the vote to KEEP conscription Conscription women related to men at war: more reinforcements! War Efforts on the Home Front