During World War I

AUSTRALIAN
WOMEN
What was
the role of
Women in
the early 20
th

Century?
Teaching
In schools providing
students with an education
was seen as a female task.
Nursing
Looking after
the sick and
helping people
but to health
Homemakers
Performing domestic
duties such as cooking,
washing and cleaning.
Dressmaking
Making clothing for
women. Sewing and
the sort.
Mothers
Having children and
caring for them.
Wives
Women should
marry and look
after their
husbands.
What was
the role of
Women in
the early 20
th

Century?
How might
WW1
have
changed the
the role of
women?
Nursing
3000 female nurses were sent overseas
in the Australian Army Nursing Service.
They were stationed in all major war
areas and on hospital ships.
13 Nurses were killed and others were
wounded.
Activism against the War
The Womens Peace Army.
Debates about Womens Legal Status.
Volunteering
Organisations such as the Red Cross.
Comfort parcels & making things to be sent to the
men.
Unpaid work for the Patriotic funds.
Office work
Accountants
Bookkeepers
Clerks
Typists
The role of
Australian
Women in
WW1
Australian Women & WW1 Timeline
Copy into your books:
1915
Womens Peace Army is formed
1916
Provision for equal pay for women in Commonwealth
Public Service is dropped.

Queensland Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act
includes provisions for equal pay for women; not put
into practice.
1918
Commonwealth Government bars womens entry into
clerical division of the Federal Public Service.

Minimum womens wage is set at 50 per cent of the
minimum male wage in New South Wales and South
Australia
The Womens Peace Army
Formed in 1915 by a group of women including Vida Goldstein

Opposed Australias involvement in the war

Anti-Imperialist and Pacifist

Participated in anti-conscription campaign in 1916


Womens Legal Status Act
Women moved from non-traditional roles which helped feminists in
their demands for equality.

In 1918 the Womens Legal Status Act was passed giving women the
right to stand for election to state parliament, be jurors, enter the
legal profession and become justices of the peace.

Massive source of social inequality that continued was that women
still did not earn as much as men in the same professions.
Definitions
Copy into your books:
Feminist



Patriarchy



Matriarchy



Misogynist



Definitions
Copy into your books:
Feminist
Someone who wants equal rights and
opportunities for women.

Patriarchy




Matriarchy




Misogynist




Definitions
Copy into your books:
Feminist
Someone who wants equal rights and
opportunities for women.

Patriarchy
A system of society or government in which
men hold the power and women are largely
excluded.
Matriarchy




Misogynist




Definitions
Copy into your books:
Feminist
Someone who wants equal rights and
opportunities for women.

Patriarchy
A system of society or government in which
men hold the power and women are largely
excluded.
Matriarchy
A system of society or government ruled by a
woman or women.

Misogynist



Definitions
Copy into your books:
Feminist
Someone who wants equal rights and
opportunities for women.
Patriarchy
A system of society or government in which
men hold the power and women are largely
excluded.
Matriarchy
A system of society or government ruled by a
woman or women.
Misogynist
A person who dislikes, despises or Is strongly
prejudiced against women.
The Woman Voter, 3 June 1915

The procession created a sensation, as this was the first
time in history that Australian women had made any sort of
political demonstration in defence of their own rights. Then
the Speakers, unemployed women, spoke of their situation:
Dear Sir, we are here because we want to work, not charity.
My father wouldnt let me learn a trade or go in for any
profession, because he said, the home is the womens
place, but I lost my home because the landlord doubled the
rent for those of us who have no other source of income,
two days work isnt enough
The Herald, 27 May 1916
The remarkable adaptability and success with which the girl
has shouldered the new tasks thrust upon her by the war
have rapidly won her a higher status in the business world,
she is today no longer limited in her ambition to the more
trifling duties, and there is practically no field of business
endeavour in which she cannot hope to succeed.

That this new condition is no more than her right, a thing
essentially due to her in the present circumstances, is the
opinion of Mr. C.H. Holmes headmaster and manager of
Stotts Business College
The Triad, 10 February 1919


Wherever a woman took a post on the understanding that
she was to fill it temporarily until a man returned from war,
she is a coward and a swindler and a little treacherous
knave if she does not relinquish it.
Propaganda Posters
Choose ONE option and create a small poster on
the A5 paper provided:
Create a propaganda
poster, aimed at
women, that calls for
volunteer workers
with the Red Cross.

The Red Cross did
everything from
nursing and air raid
duty to searching for
missing people and
transporting the
wounded.
Our primary role was
to help the naval and
military medical
services treat sick and
wounded sailors and
soldiers.

Create a propaganda
poster, aimed at
women, advertising
for women to join the
Australian Army
Nursing Services,

The women worked in
hospitals, on hospital
ships and trains, or in
casualty clearing
stations closer to the
front line. They served
in locations from
Britain to India, taking
in France and
Belgium, the
Mediterranean, and
the Middle East.
Create a propaganda
poster, aimed at
women, asking them
to get involved with
making care parcels
to be sent to men in
the trenches.

Most parcel contained
things like meat, fish,
vegetable, bread and
fruit items, cigarettes
or other tobacco
products. Some
contained knitted
Socks, writing
materials and the sort.
Create a propaganda
poster, aimed at
women, asking them
to TEMPORARILY take
an office job either as
an accountant,
bookkeeper, clerk or
typist (using a
typewriter).


Your posters must
include:
A catchy title.
A picture of a
woman doing the
job.
A brief statement of
what the work is.
How their work will
help the war effort.

During World War I
AUSTRALIAN
WOMEN