Ignored, patronised, stereotyped, exploited, unrecognised, unrewarded.
These six words describe the pattern of attitudes towards women between 1914 and 1921. The clearly defined class and gender roles of Victorian and Edwardian Britain were hard to break down. Industry and commerce were male dominions but in 1914 the men were needed elsewhere. A willing but underused workforce was available but to utilise it required huge changes in attitude not least by managers and politicians. How these were addressed and how far they were achieved is the theme of this talk. Case studies will explore how women attempted to participate in the war effort, how far they were accepted and the impact on society. Were any changes permanently embedded in society after the war ended?
David Carter is a retired teacher, and author of two books. He is a volunteer researcher for the Royal Fusiliers Museum, at the Tower of London, and he lives in Cumbria. His book titled; ‘The Stockbrokers' Battalion in the Great War’ was published in 2013.