The Second World War was transformative for women in Australian society. With reference to Employment, how did the way Australian women both were se

The Second World War was transformative for women in Australian society. With reference to Employment, how did the way Australian women both were seen within society, as well as how they saw themselves, change during the war?

The Second World War has significantly impacted Australian society, particularly in relation to the changing perceptions and roles for women. The primary aim of this essay is to explore the status and self-perception of Australian women evolving during the war with a particular focus on employment. Before the war, women of Australian society were limited to domestic duties dictated by the traditional gender roles. However, emergency during the war time mobilisation required active participation of the women in the workforce as well (Darian-Smith, 1996, p.63). This led to significant changes in the gender norms as well as comprehensive social change particularly from perspective of employment for women. There were several rules that were assumed by women during the World War which was specifically designated for men like nurses, agricultural labourers, and munition workers. The comprehensive participation of women in the workforce not only helps the cause of the war effort but also led to the empowerment of women within the society and expanded their opportunities. Due to the entry of women into traditionally male dominated industries; several assumptions and stereotypes were shattered enhancing their capabilities. Additionally, the participation of women during the war helped develop a camaraderie and solidarity among women leading to the development of shared identity. The Second World War transformed the societal perception of Australian women especially in relation to employment. This essay aims to provide advanced understanding of this significant period of Australian history.

The shift in employment opportunities for Australian women during World War 2 was marked by comprehensive participation in the workforce. According to Baker (2015, p.17-18), women extended beyond traditional gender roles in reporting the war. Peel & Twomey (2017) stated that there was rigid use of gender roles before World War 2 within the Australian society that strictly limited the opportunities provided to women in the workforce. The primary responsibility for women was domestic duties and to become an ideal mother and a wife capable of managing the household and care for the children (Featherstone, 2005, p.235). It should also be mentioned in this regard that this expectation was transformed into a concentration of women in traditionally female occupations like nursing, domestic service, and teaching (Griffin, 2009b, p.24). As indicated by Fort (2016, p.18), traditionally female jobs were often regarded as natural extensions of the nurturing and caring abilities of women with limited career growth or financial freedom. On the other hand, social biases and implemented regulation often restricted the ability for women to access typically male dominated fields. Peel & Twomey (2017) opined that trade unions often limited female apprenticeships which effectively lead to women being excluded from skilled trades. Women were not taken seriously even in white collar professions like accounting and law that was significantly influenced by the social expectations (Fort, 2016, p.19). Griffin (2009b, p.27) also stated that women venturing into these fields were given lower wages and limited prospect of promotion in comparison to males. A concept of married womans disability was particularly prevalent during the time in relation to female employment. Fort (2016, p.18) stated that married women were automatically dismissed from their jobs once married. It was assumed that the income of the husband would be sufficient to financially sustain and support the family which made female or wifes employment unnecessary. It led to severe limitation on the financial independence for women and they were discouraged from pursuing a career that had long-term growth and sustainability in favour of domestic duties and responsibilities. Therefore, it can be stated that the Australian society before the World War presented a significant barrier to the employment of women as well as the options that were offered to them. Biassed social expectations lead to the confinement of women to domestic roles whilst regulatory restrictions limited the opportunity of women to participate in traditionally male dominated fields. However, World War 2 led to rising demand for labour that solved as a catalyst to challenge the deeply ingrained limitations for female employment revolutionising employment for women throughout the Australian society to date.

There was a significant shortage of labour in Australia due to the outbreak of World War 2 which led to the male workforce being enlisted for the cause of war. The unprecedented contextual situation broke down the pre-war limitation on womens employment which led to offering a range of opportunities to women for workforce participation (Beaumont, 2020, p.194). Griffin (2009a, p.18) also stated that the government of Australia actively encouraged women participation in the workforce through campaigns and slogans like Shes Doing Her Bit. Munitions production, a critical requirement of war efforts, was one of the most crucial areas undertaken by women. According to Harris & Sendziuk (2018, p.188), a significant number of workers was required by the factories in order to continuously manufacture exclusive weapons and war supplies. These roles were efficiently filled in by women who could operate machinery, assembling components, as well as contributing directly to the war efforts. Another vital initiative during this time was the Australian Womens Land Army (AWLA). Harris & Sendziuk (2018, p.188) opined that the farmers enlisted in the war were replaced by women to tend livestock and crops to ensure steady domestic food supply. There was a huge rise in the number of female employees within the industrial sector where women undertook supervisory roles, assembled parts, operated heavy machinery which was traditionally male dominated (Griffin, 2009b, p.28). A significant role was also played by the government in order to enforce this shift. The Department of Labour developed initiatives like Womens Employment Branch to facilitate training programs and placement in order to integrate females in the workforce seamlessly (Fort, 2016, p.22). There was a stark change in the public opinion as well. According to Howard (2016, p.52), Dupri conceived notion of domesticity as the sole responsibility of the woman was gradually broken down through propaganda campaigns that labelled women walking in factories as patriotic contributors to the war effort. Geddes (2004) expressed that the achievements of women in nontraditional roles and gradually changing social perceptions were celebrated in newsreels and articles all over the country. It should also be noted in this regard that the urgency during the wartime not only opened the doors for women in specific sectors but also challenged the established broader gender ideologies. Women were able to prove their competence in various roles and industries with significant help in negotiating the idea that the place of women was simply to take care of the household. Featherstone (2005, p.242) stated that a critical role was cleared by the media which showcased successful women workers as role models in order to inspire other women to defy the traditional limitation imposed by society. Therefore, it can be stated that the significant shortage of labour caused by male population enlisted in the war efforts became a significant catalyst for change in womens workforce participation. Crucial roles in agriculture, industries and production were filled by women to ensure continued production capabilities and domestic food supply chain. Change in the public opinion along with governmental initiatives facilitated large scale integration of women into work championed by media. Hence, the wartime experience for women had a lasting impact on the large-scale integration of women in the workforce which eroded the pre-war notions and limitations of gender roles and offered a more equitable future for Australian women in the workforce.

Apart from the opportunities offered to women for entry into the workforce caused by World War 2, there was a significant impact on self-perception as well. A sense of empowerment was developed within women in the workforce as they were able to contribute directly to the war effort which particularly challenged the pre-war notions of femininity. A newfound sense of purpose and independence was also instilled among the women due to their experiences during the wartime. A significant factor in this regard was financial independence. Before the war, the women were financially dependent on their husbands or fathers. However, Griffin (2009b, p.29) stated that the employment for women during the wartime provided them with a steady income which allowed them to contribute to the household or become the primary breadwinner for their families. This newfound financial power was responsible for challenging the traditional gender roles as well as developing a sense of self-reliance in many women of Australia. Even beyond the financial gain for these women, the participation of the women in the workforce during the war offered a crucial sense of purpose. The women were not particularly limited to the domestic duties as they were able to actively contribute to a national cause which was of high importance. The roles of operating machinery in factories, tending to crops on farms, and serving in auxiliary roles for the military helped the women to feel they were making a real difference for their country in the fight against fascism (Harris & Sendziuk, 2018, p.192). The media and newspapers often portrayed the women as she-roes within the country to positively contribute to the development of sense of national contribution and value (Geddes, 2004). There were several challenges that were faced by the women despite the rise in need for workforce inclusion of women. A significant hurdle for many women as they were inducted into the workforce was discrimination. According to Griffin (2009b, p.30), the women were paid less than their male counterparts for the same work. It should also be mentioned in this regard that leadership opportunities along with promotions and growth are limited and less readily available which perpetuated the sense of an uneven playing field. While there were significant changes in the societal attitudes, it was not completely devoid of pre-war expectations. As indicated by Featherstone (2005, p.245), it was believed that an ideal woman although depicted in posters to be working in factories, would also need to balance their traditional domestic responsibilities, which was a significant challenge. A significant portion of the female workforce must balance household work, childcare and paid employment that led to immense strain and exhaustion. Therefore, the wartime employment had a varied impact on the self-perception of women. While the financial independence and a sense of purpose was developed due to their contributions to war effort, hence, empowering the women in the society. Discrimination and burden of balancing household work responsibilities and paid industrial work posed significant problems for the women. However, despite these issues, the foundation for a real social change was laid during the experiences of World War 2. The women proved their capability to work beyond the household that ultimately led to the equitable contribution of women in the workforce that is seen today in Australia.

The events of World War 2 served as a significant catalyst that led to transformation of Australian women, especially in regard to employment. The women were generally limited to the domestic roles before the war while the industrial regulations and rules limited access of women to skilled work. However, due to the rising demand of labourers around the country to meet the wartime efforts, it led to offering new opportunities to women in various industrial roles. Crucial roles like in munition factories, rural labour and other industries proved their capability to compete in traditionally male dominated areas. The self-perception of the women was also positively influenced by the wartime experiences. The contributing role of participating in industrial jobs led to the development of a sense of purpose and financial independence. However, discrimination and balancing work with domestic duties continued to be challenging, the pre-war notion of femininity began to change. Hence, the long-term effects of employment during World War 2 are undeniable that led to changing perceptions of stereotype, societal expectations, and employment opportunities. Therefore, the skills and confidence gained during the wartime is likely fuelling the ongoing social movements advocating for equitable and balanced future for Australian women.

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