1. The Role of Women During WW1 Friday, October 17 th, 2014

2. Women Before WW1 Women could not vote Women could not hold a public office in the government Employment opportunities for women were limited - nurse, teacher, secretary, “stay at home wife” Women were prohibited from joining the military forces

3. Women During WW1  In Europe Women were prohibited from fighting, but they were able to: NURSE AMBULANCE DRIVER 3,000 Canadian women served as nurses overseas: The“Bluebirds” 46 died  deliberate hospital bombing, shelling, disease, hostpital ship torpedoed These nurses saw A LOT of gruesome death and wounded men that were young

4. Women During WW1  At Home With men going off to war, women took their places in the workforce They were able to work in factories, producing A LOT of: -Food -war materials -general supplies They assumed the role of “man of the house”: -managing family farm-taking care of family -making important decisions Women gained a sense of EMPOWERMENT & INDEPENDANCE

5. “If women in war factories stopped for 20 minutes, we should lose the war” -French General Joseph Joffre

6. Women and Politics Women were not able to vote up until 1917 Military Voters Act: allowed female members of the army (nurses) to vote in federal elections Wartime Elections Act: vote extended to mothers, daughters, sisters, and wives of Canadian men serving in Europe Impact  influence the vote to KEEP conscription Conscription women related to men at war: more reinforcements!

7. War Efforts on the Home Front