Part I: Analyze the impact of World War I on women in the Western world. How did it affect their self-perception? How did it affect societies' perceptions of women? Consult Diane Atkinson, Historian on Suffragettes (1) Diane Atkinson, Historian (2) and Gail Braybon, Author on Women's Contribution to the War Effort.
Part II: World War I was a turning point in world history in numerous ways. The war showed the horror of industrial warfare and scarred an entire generation's psyche. Governments, particularly those in industrialized nations, grew in power and gained more influence over economic production and individual lives. Propaganda campaigns showed how societies could be mobilized to behave in certain manners without any overt coercion. Women assumed new roles in society and gained the right to vote in some countries such as the United States and Britain. Thus, World War I encouraged people to question old assumptions. For example, read the essays at The Russian Revolution of 1917 and The German Revolution of 1918. Why were so many people in Russia and Germany willing to support the socialist goals of these revolutions?
This blog has two parts to it so please be sure to answer both parts and respond to your classmates as well. Remember to respond to the question in 6-8 sentences (yes it can be longer) and to respond to two of your classmates answers in 4-6 sentences. Do not just agree or disagree without defending or justifying your argument. Think above and beyond the common answers that you may see. Be sure to challenge your classmates with controversial tactics, actions or selections. Good Luck!!!! Go Mustangs!!!
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WWI changed the usual idea that women were supposed to stay at home and do domestic duties. of course there were still the views that women should not be involved in political issues, as seen in one of Diane Atkinson’s articles, but regardless they still voted, and woman’s role changed. Woman’s perception of themselves went from domestic duties to war duties. They were not just house wives anymore, they carried out roles in the war like making weapons, and carrying explosives around. Not all women agreed with the war or even knew why it was taking place, but their husbands leaving for war and the roles in the houses and community were changing. I think societies perception of women had difficulty changing. Woman were going to take a stand for their rights, women were rebelling and going on strikes in prison cells because of what they believed, and even when forceful tactics were used, they didn't back down. All of this was out of the normal and not taken lightly, by most.
So many people in Russia and Germany were willing to support the socialist goals of these revolutions because they all believed in revolution, not war. The revolutions wanted a change in the nation while the war was focused on land and conquering things for honor and nobility. The war lead the way to the revolutions, and to come out of imperialistic, capital nations.
World War I had quite a different impact on women. Women were always viewed as not being very important and treated unequally when compared to men. There were social changes during World War I because many of the men were fighting during the war, thus creating a shortage of male workers. The women therefore had to step up and take over their roles. So instead of the traditional roles/jobs the women had, they took place of the men's jobs such as factories and other jobs that did not involve the war. This affected the women's self perception because the women now felt a greater responsibility in the war. They felt as if they played an important role and their contributions would help end the war faster. This is mentioned in Gail Braybon, Women's Contribution to the War Effort. The society’s perception of women was very un-accepting. Most thought that because they were women they should not be involved in "mans work." Many people in Russia and Germany were willing to support the socialist goals of these revolutions because they were practical goals that would benefit the country. Each had aspects that would benefit themselves and would in turn improve the society of the country. For example the March Revolution started because of the disagreement of the Tsar’s orders and the people wanting it to dissolve. This was a socialist goal in which many were willing to support.
Well... during WWI, the position of women in society changed for the good and for the bad. In the US most men were signing up for the war and or being "drafted". Women had to "take over" certain roles, business wise, family wise, and etc. Since that most men were abroad, women took over positions in offices, factories, and in the household. They were no longer the "common housewife", they were much more than that.
Since the US and European countries were at total war, the factories subsidized for creation of weapons, ammo, and other essentials for war. Mainly in Russia, change for women took place. After communism took its place, the simple supply and demand was put into place. There was a horrible bad harvest, and there was not enough bread to go around, thus the prices rose. Women did not like this and decided to strike back! Most of the workers in Russian were women, so thus slowed down production of very essential materials for Russia's Army. In many places were battles are taken place, women are nurses and they help with all the "bad" that come with war. Even though women were "on the battlefront" [nurses] they did not receive much recognition and had no military ranking what so ever. But even though, women during WWI had their downs; they still had their ups. In thus, creating a new sense of women in society.
In response to kimarmendariz...
I do not disagree with you on how world war I impacted women. Though, I do not understand what you meant by saying that the woman's perception of themselves went from domestic duties to war duties. I do not think that women took or was allowed to take part in the war. They did however, have their work changed from being very traditional to taking over the men's jobs while the men were at work. I also agree with your view on Russia and Germany supporting socialist goals to avoid war and by going through revolutions.
In response to ChrisdeBelen...
I agree with your response on how World War I impacted women. It is very similar to mine. The women did in fact take over the men's jobs while they were out to war. Thus the women lost their traditional work. I also like the example you gave on women striking back and being nurses. But do not think you answered the second part of the blog. :/
World war I was the beging of womens rights. Before this time women stayed home and took care of house chores. When WWI started, countries were in need of all the soliders they could get, both normal working men and professional soliders. SInce all the men were going to war there was no one to work in the factories. Women started slowly filling these jobs and getting some say in society. Women thought they could do anything men can do, such as go to work, make a living, join in the war, etc. During the war they could not fight in the war but could be nurses. Women also worked in factories and other businesses. They were exposed to harmful conditions but it was the same conditions there husbands worked in. Women were starting to become self-sufficent. Now women could have a job and still be accepted in society but voting was another big issue. Diane Atkinson tells us the outrageous ideas people had about women in politics. As we know now these are not true. Women will stil get married and have children but they will just be more educated. Educated women can then spread there knowledge to their children, which creates a more advanced country. Eventually, in some countries, women were allowed the right to vote.
Germany and Russia both lost there dignity during WWI. Both countries were in international turnoil. Russia had came out of the war early because their country was low in money and stability. Russia needed a change. Russia's economy differed greatly and the could not seem to hold a democracy, so when a strong leader came with great ideals they really had no choice but to convert to communism. Germany was put far in debt after WWI. The leader of germany had made the country far worse then it had ever been.Germany had no choice but to try and create a democracy so people had a say in their country, which was somewhat destroyed after the war.
kimarmendariz- i agree that womens roles did change but i dont think that they changed completely to war duties. Most women took over the jobs of their husbands. yes some did work to help with war weapons but not many. i also agree that women did stand up for their rights more then they did in the past.
ChrisdeBelen-
i agree with that womens roles did change. i think you used good examples especially that they were not "common housewifes". I also agree the women had there downs that they wanted to be in war but were not allowed the chance to fight but they still ade the most out of it by becoming nurses.
in response to
ChrisdeBelen
Ummm... where is the second part? anyways, in the first [art of the blog you pointed out the good and the bad of womens changing ro;e, and i think that was a good addition to ur blog. Your points on communism and how it affected women during the war was a good point to add. It was a good example on why women were "striking back." Overall you had several good points, but you should go back and do the second part.
AkilahRA
in your response to me you said you were not sure women were allowed to take part in the war, Some had too. A perfect example is them being nurses on battlefront. Yes I agree that they did take many of the mens roles once they were "drafted," and i should have added that to my blog, it was a good point. The points you made in the second part of your blog was also very thoughtful.
WWI had a huge impact on women like them being able to work outside of their homes. Before men thought women weren’t good enough to do the work that men did. During the war most men had to join the war and be drafted out. There was no one else to do the jobs that the men left behind so women started getting hired, and even though they did the jobs just like the men they wouldn’t get paid as much. Women were getting more independence now and even in some countries were being allowed to vote. Some countries were scared that if women got involved with politics they would stop getting married and wouldn’t have kids so the human race would die out stated by Diane Atkinson. This obviously isn’t true since now women are involved with politics and still getting married, it just took longer for some countries to realize that. Some women even wanted to join the war but could only be nurses.
In Russia and Germany so many people agreed to socialism because they pretty much weren’t able to do anything else. They were done with the war and wanted a revolution for their country to make it stable and independent. People wanted to be involved with their countries now so they could have a say in what is going on instead and they hope socialism would do that.
In response to AkilahRA
Why did women feel a greater responsibility in the war if they were just taking over the men’s jobs like factory work? I also agree about the shortage of male’s workers which led to women needing to work or take over the men’s responsibilities. Also since the goals in Russia and Germany were more practical that is why the people went along with it because they felt there could be a change for the better.
In response to kimarmendariz
I liked how you used the example from Diane Atkinson about women being in politics I also put that. The women weren’t just involved with the war only as nurses they took over the jobs of men that had to go to war. I also like that you mentioned women were taking a stand for their rights. In Russia and Germany I also think they didn’t want to be in the war because they wanted revolutions in their countries so they could have a better and stable country.
Usually, it seems everytime something happens women go two steps forward then five steps back. Women were never considered equal in anything and were never treated equal in anything. but in WWI, women were actaully given a chance to change all that. This was like their first real step towards equality. Since most men had been sent off at war, the women had no choice but to keep life going at home and to take over both the female and male roles in the family. Women started taking on men's jobs, like working in factories. The only thing they weren't allowed to participate in was fighting in the war. it seems men were afriad of women with arms. This affected a women's self perception because i guess through taking on more responsibility and just stepping into a man's shoes made them feel as if they could do anything. They felt important and in the end what they did really helped end the war faster. Women were becoming more self-confident and self-sufficent.
Diane Atkinson tells us of the negative views people had on women and Gail Brayon talked of society's unaccepting view of women. many thought wome should have nothing to do with anything "man's." i seriously don't understand what society's problem with women was. I mean they were talking about their own mothers, the very people who spent nine months carrying them in their wound and loving them and raising them. They should've had mosr respect for what women go through just to have them. Anyway, womens roles changeddramatically through WWI, but not all of it was from the war. Women did have a part in fighting for their own rights too.
Germany and Russia were willing to support socialist goals because they wanted to have a say in what was going on. They didn't agree with the war, but they couldn't do anything about it and so this was the only way their people could make their thoughts known. Although, this doesn't really work out in the end.
to AkilahRA:
i agree with all you ideas and i like the example you gave with Gail Brayon. With the second part, i agree that they thought it would benefit your country but i had a different reason why they thought it would. I see your point though.
toChrisdeBelen:
i agree with your thoughts on society's perception of women versus women's perception of themselves.I like that you made your answer very detailed with examples of what countries did.
but i think you forgot the second part.
World War One was already a very explosive war that changed the psyche of many generations and altered the perceptions of weapons of mass destruction and the science of war But perhaps the most undermined group of our species, the women, had a lot to do behind it as composed in Diane Atkinsons, Historian 2. Women were able to operate weapon making and the machinery behind the war and were in part a huge help in the war little to many of there knowledge. Some women felt that they were part of something extraordinary and maniacally large while others simply thought of the construction as simple busy work to get done. There self perception was indeed changed but it mostly went down to each individual women's self beliefs and esteem. Society saw women as unfit to participate in politics for many unearthly reasons but one of the more prevalent ones was the reasons of female issues preoccupying them from making a reasonable government decision and that there vote could result into the fall of a total empire as read in Historian on Suffragettes. World War 1 put the abilities of the women at bay and showed that women can successively participate in politics constructively and efficiently. Not to mention the Suffragette's dying effort to have the ability to excercise their rights by any means possible.
Many people in Russia and Germany were trying to support the socialist goals of the revolutions simply because of the financial state the country was in and how the worker couldn't afford to eat and to live. Socialism at that time was more pragmatic and was seen to benefit everybody who potentially would suffer from the amount of unemployment and upset families including the women who wanted equal opportunity in jobs and equal suffrage rights. Teh support for socialism just seemed the logical thing for the countries to do.
In response to ashleyjustine:
Seriously, I love the part where you brought up how the men were practically hating there own mothers. You go, sister! The irrational hatred that was shown against women at that time will forever disgrace their progeny.(Or maybe they can just apologize) Anyways, good blog!
In response to AkilahRA:
I love how you put "man's work" in quotes. I mean really what is "man's work"? I don't see how anything men do women can't do especially today where you see women practicing every male trade possible. Like the famous play "Annie, Get Your Gun" says, "Anything you can do, I can do better!" Good blog!
World War I changed the ideas that people had of women because they were always seen as staying home doing their domestic "duties", in which were to take care of the children and their home. Also they were seen as not to take part in political issues, as mention before in one of Diane Atkinsons's articles. However they did manage to still vote which thus helped change their roles. Many of women went from work in their homes to work in the war. They helped by building weapons and helped out taking care of fallen soliders. Such as Flourence Nightengale, whom helped the fallen soliders and helped find cures for certain illnesses. Personally i think it was hard for them to rise up and change what people thought of them because they were at such a low level that society had placed them. I also think that it was even harder for women to go against what others thought such as war. Many women went against the war and that took alot of courage for them to do that. All in all i think that none of this was taken lightly from anybody, especially the men.
World War I had a positive impact on women. Because the men were at war women, for the first time, had an honorable and important role in society. Women were able to work in factories and fill in for their spouses. Also, women were granted suffrage after the war in the United States as well as Great Britain. Ofcourse not everyone supported women suffrage. According to Diane Atkinson some men believed that if women were given the right to vote they would no longer have the desire to get married and bear children. We no this is not true because 80 years after women were granted suffrage they are still having children. When people are upset at the government and want immediate change they tend to support extremist political parties. In Russia unhappy peasants and workers peacefully protested in the nations capital and thousands were gunned down. This led to the Russian Revolution; the abdication of the Czar and rise of Lenin and the Bolsheviks. In Germany the situation was less violent. The Germans supported the socialist as a way of ensuring peace and acquiring more political freedom.
In response to kimarmendariz
I agree, peoples perception of women had trouble changing. Women really had to fight for their right to vote. They showed this by going on strikes. Also many Russians and Germans favored their revolutions and opposed the war. They felt change in their nation was more important than the honor and nobility of the war.
In response to Beccaxlynn
I disagree, Russia was not forced in to communism. Russians wanted a government in place that sympathized with the needs of the workers and peasants. But they did not foresee the atrocities and unfairness that would come along with communism.
WWI had a big impact on the way women were viewed and looked upon in the western world. There had always been the idea that women were just suppost to stay at home and do chores around the house such as clean, cook, and take care of the children. Although, because of WWI, this view on women changed as the duties of women evolved. Men were dying in the war and there were less and less men to take care of "manly" duties back home, so women had to step up to fill the mans place by working in places such as factories and completing tasks that women hadn't usually performed. By women filling in for men, they changed the way society had viewed them. It also had an effect on women's self perception because it made them feel a bit more independent and important. They now felt as if they were needed and depended on for more than just watching after the kids. Women now felt like they had an important place in society. Many people in Russia and Germany had been willing to support the socialist goals because they felt as if it were their only way to be involved and have any chance at independence. People thought that this would bring some freedom and independence as it brought power.
in response to kristarae
i agree with you about part 2 of the blog. I think that you did a good job, it was short and to the point, and i agree with your point that people hoped they would have a say in what was going on by supporting the revolutions.
in response to amelia parra
i think that you did a good job although i think you should add a little bit more "meat" to your response explaining how the views of women were impacted.
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