Women’s employment grew during WW2 from 5.1 million in 1939 to around 7.25 million in 1943.
The service experience of women did have an effect on them. Many women desired other jobs after the war and would continue their independence. But some women wanted to live the normal domestic life after the war.Women were getting paid around 2.15 euros a week, the men were getting paid more. Even the men that were less skilled then the women got paid more.
Men usually were expected to work so they could provide and support their family. When the men were at war the women had to take over the men’s jobs, some of these jobs were considered to be too physical for the women and that was a major effect on the women. These jobs include: welding, machine repair, operating tractors and other large engines.
Women were put down for their incapability to do jobs such as agriculture. ‘The suggestion to form an army of women to do the hard work of farms is ridiculous. Our women are wonderful, but is it fair to ask them to shear or crutch sheep, to plough the land?’ – The Argus, 1941 (The Argus 16 May, 1941, p7). If the women could not provide to their family and this would lead to a major effect on the family. The mothers might not be able to find work so that could lead to financial difficulty and they might not be able to afford food.
The service experience of women did have an effect on them. Many women desired other jobs after the war and would continue their independence. But some women wanted to live the normal domestic life after the war.Women were getting paid around 2.15 euros a week, the men were getting paid more. Even the men that were less skilled then the women got paid more.
Men usually were expected to work so they could provide and support their family. When the men were at war the women had to take over the men’s jobs, some of these jobs were considered to be too physical for the women and that was a major effect on the women. These jobs include: welding, machine repair, operating tractors and other large engines.
Women were put down for their incapability to do jobs such as agriculture. ‘The suggestion to form an army of women to do the hard work of farms is ridiculous. Our women are wonderful, but is it fair to ask them to shear or crutch sheep, to plough the land?’ – The Argus, 1941 (The Argus 16 May, 1941, p7). If the women could not provide to their family and this would lead to a major effect on the family. The mothers might not be able to find work so that could lead to financial difficulty and they might not be able to afford food.