Women During WWII
During World War II, women's roles were radically affected because, as men enlisted in the armed services, not enough men were left to be ordinary workers. When Japan entered the war in December 1941, 554,000 Australian males and 74,000 females were directly involved in war work. By March 1943, these figured had doubled.
New types of work possibilities opened up for women during World War II. Before the war, Australian women were not permitted to serve in the military, and most working women were employed in factories, shops or in family businesses. Women were expected to resign from their employment once they had children. With so many servicemen deployed overseas, the role of women in Australia changed to meet the needs of the armed forces and the war economy.
Propaganda began to be produced depicting the 'working woman' very positively. Women were encouraged to enlist in services such as the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS), Australian Army Medical Women's Service (AAMWS), Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS), Volunteer aid Detachment (VAD), Women's Australian Auxiliary Air Force (WAAAF) and Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS). These services were popular; for example, almost 25,000 women joined the AWAS.
Undertaking the same training as men, women worked in numerous non-traditional occupations, involving truck drivers, motor mechanics, radar mechanics, technicians, welders and signalers. An Australian Women's Land Army was also established on 27 July 1942, with Women's Land Army camps set up across the country - for example, 69 were set up in NSW alone. At the end of the war there was a general expectation that women would return to domestic duties in the home and that the returned soldiers would be welcomed back into the workforce.
New types of work possibilities opened up for women during World War II. Before the war, Australian women were not permitted to serve in the military, and most working women were employed in factories, shops or in family businesses. Women were expected to resign from their employment once they had children. With so many servicemen deployed overseas, the role of women in Australia changed to meet the needs of the armed forces and the war economy.
Propaganda began to be produced depicting the 'working woman' very positively. Women were encouraged to enlist in services such as the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS), Australian Army Medical Women's Service (AAMWS), Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS), Volunteer aid Detachment (VAD), Women's Australian Auxiliary Air Force (WAAAF) and Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS). These services were popular; for example, almost 25,000 women joined the AWAS.
Undertaking the same training as men, women worked in numerous non-traditional occupations, involving truck drivers, motor mechanics, radar mechanics, technicians, welders and signalers. An Australian Women's Land Army was also established on 27 July 1942, with Women's Land Army camps set up across the country - for example, 69 were set up in NSW alone. At the end of the war there was a general expectation that women would return to domestic duties in the home and that the returned soldiers would be welcomed back into the workforce.
Women's Organisations:
Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force: The Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) was formed in March 1941. Women performed most air force roles, including skilled technical work as signallers, pilots and mechanics, intelligence work and service roles such as cooks and stewardesses, made up 10% of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) ground staff. Australian Women's Army Service: The Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS) was formed in August 1941. Women who enlisted were required to be single and between 18 and 45 years of age. |
They performed skilled technical work as telecommunications officers and mechanics, did administration work and filled service roles as cooks and support staff. Members served with the Royal Australian Artillery, helping in operating anti-aircraft gun radars and searchlights.
Australian Women's Land Army: The Australian Women's Land Army (AWLA) was formed in July 1942. Members enrolled full time for twelve months or as temporary members to assist during peak periods. More than 2000 permanent members and 1000 auxiliaries were serving by December 1943. Women performed roles in all aspects of agricultural life, and were therefore crucial to food production. The land army was a civilian organisation and members were paid by the farmers who employed them, not the government. |
Source 2: 1973 Publication of The Australian Women's Weekly reporting on the portrayal of women during the war years.
During the early war years, up to 1942, homemaking and motherhood remained the most important job. As the need for increased supplies of female labour became paramount, the magazine began to change the image of its heroine. As long as women were needed in the workforce, magazine propaganda painted an attractive image of the working woman. But as soon as the war was over, the working woman ceased to exist for the Women's Weekly, being replaced by the bride. Andree Wright, 'The Australian Women's Weekly, Depression and the War Years: Romance and Reality', 1973, no. 3, p. 11. |
Source 3: An extract from Dorothea Skov's recollection of her service in the AWAS
"At first, it was a total battle to get men to accept us as workers. They were very hostile. ...Articles in the press didn't help. 'Servicewomen keep their femininity' and 'girls don't loose their femininity in barracks'. This type of article abounded. The soldiers saw us as playing at war. Women had gone into the services with such a load of enthusiasm; they'd go from dawn to next daylight. Soon officers said, 'the morale and behaviour of men have lifted since the women have joined the service.' ... Every girl who enlisted was expected to release a man of active service. The returned men appreciated this when they got used to seeing us around." Dorothea Skov, quotes in Patsy Adam-Smith, Australian Women At War, Penguin, Melbourne, 1984, pp. 195. |
Women in the military:
Just under 80,000 women enlisted in Australia's military services during WWII and about 5% of these served overseas. A number of Aboriginal women undertook domestic duties and work as hospital orderlies within the military. Many Australians, including military personnel, were prejudiced against women's participation int he military services and accepted it only because of need. some women thought that military service would undermine their femininity. Activities: Download the table located in the document below and use the sources to answer the questions.
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