Women on the Homefront

Women collecting metal, glass and other recyclables to make war supplies.

Women on the Home Front in World War Two

              In 1939 Canada entered the Second World War. This lead to the conscription crisis and most men had to go fight for Canada. Since no men were working on the farms and in the factories the women had to take over. During the war years this was life changing for women.

Cause and Consequence 

               The women having to go into the workplace was caused mostly by World War Two and the conscription crisis. Since the men had to fight for Canada, there was no one working on the farms or in the factories. Also no men were making the war supplies so the women had to do that as well. Women did not get paid as much as the men because they did not have full rights and the government didn’t feel it was necessary. The children got neglected because both parents are away from the house all day and either got put into day cares or stayed home alone all day. This was the downside for families but the women felt as though the government and other people could see that they can do what the men can. The government partially benefited from this because they got men in the war and paid women less for the jobs the men used to do. They also had to pay for day care facilities to be built and for people to look after the children while women work.

The people involved in this event are most women in their adult years. In 1942 Ottawa registered women ages 20-24 into the selective service, and urged women to in the war effort. The Famous Five were the head of fighting for women’s rights. The five women were Emily Murphy, NellieMcClung, Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney, and Henrietta Muir Edwards and they challenged the supreme court of Canada for women to be considered ‘persons’. The government was involved too because they were affected by this dramatic change.

If the conscription crisis never happened and the men didn’t have to go to war, I think eventually the women would have stood up for their rights. The famous five were already fighting aganst the government so if the men didn’t go off to war, eventually the women would have stood up with the famous five and fought for their rights.

Historical Significance

This is significant to Canada because the increase of Women’s rights affects all women, children and men today and back in the war years. When the men were off at war, the job opportunities for women were very high because the government need the factories and farms to be looked after. Women became less dependent on the men and people started to understand that women could do much of what the men can. Since the women started working during the war, most Canadian women have jobs now. This also affected children because they had to learn to cook for themselves and look after eachother. If they were too young they were put into day cares where the women work. Men were affected because when they came back from war, there were not as many jobs available to them.

Larger narrative

Ethical Dimensions

Women on the home front was the first step to a big change in human rights. Women standing up for their rights lead to African Americans standing up as well. People in general were gaining more confidence against the government and fighting for what they believe is right. The government did not like where this went but they realized how much of a help women were in the time of need. Women working on the home front was justified because it helped women gain their rights as people and showed everyone that women can do what men can.

Continuity and Change

Women’s right between World War Two and World War One change quite a bit. During World War One, women just did what they were told and worked on the farms and helped make war supplies. During World War Two women stood up more for their rights as a person and started working in factories and as part of the Canadian Women’s Army Corps. What stayed the same was that women did not go into battle and still men were considered more superior.

Propagnada poster from World War Two.

Primary Source

 

               This primary source states that the shortage of man power caused railway officials to seek out women to fix and maintain the tracks. The officials state that the women are doing a good job and they like the work. Women are also hired in car shops and roundhouse.

Works Cited

http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/newspapers/canadawar/women_e.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_in_the_World_Wars_and_Interwar_Years#World_War_II

http://www.airmuseum.ca/postscan.html

Shayla Bolduc