Women During World War I

Women experienced various levels of independence during this period of global upheaval and unrest. Women gained the right to vote, which represented future independence and gender equality. The vote also represented the beginning of the break from women's subordinate role to a more equal role. Women gained industrial knowledge, experience and expertise through their replacement role in factories and other work places. In general, women did very well, surprising men with their ability to undertake heavy work and with their efficiency.  By the middle of the war they were already regarded as a force to be proud of, part of the glory of Britain.  However, their entrance into the workforce was initially greeted with hostility for the usual sexist reasons and also because male workers worried that women's willingness to work for lower wages would put them out of work. The women employed in munitions factories, popularly known as munitionettes have became the most visible face of the woman worker in WWI, though doubt remains as to whether their motivation was patriotic or simply economic.