Summary
When World War 2 was announced, Australia needed the support of the whole population's contribution. Women took this opportunity to take on jobs with a shortfall of workers, as the men had all enlisted for war services. Women were expected to be nurturers and house wives, and most jobs were considered masculine. Often, women still worked in traditional roles at home, taking responsibility of the household, and fulfilling a role in industry, but war demanded more than the government had expected. To help sustain a functioning war economy, Australian women volunteered for the jobs short of manpower and soon outgrew their traditional roles as housewives, to take on significant roles in society.
During the early months of war, Australian women formed organisation units to support essential services and skills for soldiers. A few months later, the Women's Transport Corps was formed and women were taught to drive trucks, lorries, ambulances and motorcycles. The Women's Emergency Signalling Corps was formed to train 300 women to take the place of male code operators working in post offices and communication centres, but their skills were not needed during the time. It was only in 1942, when the Royal Australian Air Force began recruiting women trained in decoding, and these women helped create the Women's Australian Auxiliary Air Force. At the same time, the Women's Land Army was established to service rural industries and agriculture. Other women served military as nurses, working in Asia, Mediterranean, Britain and the Pacific. Between 1939 and 1943, women's participation in the workforce increased by 31%, and continued to contribute significantly to Australia's economy and war effort.
At home, women took responsibility of the household, taking care of children, working with minimal resources while coping with the emotional strain of war. There was the constant fear and anxiety of seeing a familiar name appear on the casualty lists in the newspaper. "His mother got in touch with me and said he was listed 'missing believed killed'. It just went on and on. You didn't know whether he was lying wounded in the jungle or whether he was dead. It was really a shocking thing. It wasn't until a long time afterwards that it was confirmed that he was killed.
It was the state of not knowing that was the worst. Once you know what has happened you can deal with it but if there is doubt, that's the worst thing in the world. You don't know which way to turn."
Women played significant roles replacing the loss of manpower and sustaining the functioning war economy. Although they took responsibility of the household, women outgrew their traditional labels as housewives, and challenged the roles expected of men to support the country during World War 2.
During the early months of war, Australian women formed organisation units to support essential services and skills for soldiers. A few months later, the Women's Transport Corps was formed and women were taught to drive trucks, lorries, ambulances and motorcycles. The Women's Emergency Signalling Corps was formed to train 300 women to take the place of male code operators working in post offices and communication centres, but their skills were not needed during the time. It was only in 1942, when the Royal Australian Air Force began recruiting women trained in decoding, and these women helped create the Women's Australian Auxiliary Air Force. At the same time, the Women's Land Army was established to service rural industries and agriculture. Other women served military as nurses, working in Asia, Mediterranean, Britain and the Pacific. Between 1939 and 1943, women's participation in the workforce increased by 31%, and continued to contribute significantly to Australia's economy and war effort.
At home, women took responsibility of the household, taking care of children, working with minimal resources while coping with the emotional strain of war. There was the constant fear and anxiety of seeing a familiar name appear on the casualty lists in the newspaper. "His mother got in touch with me and said he was listed 'missing believed killed'. It just went on and on. You didn't know whether he was lying wounded in the jungle or whether he was dead. It was really a shocking thing. It wasn't until a long time afterwards that it was confirmed that he was killed.
It was the state of not knowing that was the worst. Once you know what has happened you can deal with it but if there is doubt, that's the worst thing in the world. You don't know which way to turn."
Women played significant roles replacing the loss of manpower and sustaining the functioning war economy. Although they took responsibility of the household, women outgrew their traditional labels as housewives, and challenged the roles expected of men to support the country during World War 2.
taking part in national services
Propaganda during World War 2 stressed that for the first time, women were being encouraged to take on a men's jobs both in services and in industry. With the urgency to mobilise the entire population, the expansion of female roles became inevitable. Brightly coloured posters called for the recruitment of women in military, naval, army and air force services.
The Women's Royal Australian Naval Service formed in April 1941. The first team of women recruited were employed as signalers, coders and wireless transmitter operators.
In August 1941, the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS) was formed. They often worked in isolated areas and served as coastal defense and anti-aircraft batteries. About 500 recruits in the AWAS were sent overseas to New Guinea in 1944. Others worked as nurses in Australian General Hospitals and Casualty Clearing stations.
The Airforce Service was the largest of the 3 services in WW2. The women worked alongside men in Airforce hangars and radar signalling sections.
Women's roles and efforts during World War 2 were the start to the independence and liberation of Australian women.
The Women's Royal Australian Naval Service formed in April 1941. The first team of women recruited were employed as signalers, coders and wireless transmitter operators.
In August 1941, the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS) was formed. They often worked in isolated areas and served as coastal defense and anti-aircraft batteries. About 500 recruits in the AWAS were sent overseas to New Guinea in 1944. Others worked as nurses in Australian General Hospitals and Casualty Clearing stations.
The Airforce Service was the largest of the 3 services in WW2. The women worked alongside men in Airforce hangars and radar signalling sections.
Women's roles and efforts during World War 2 were the start to the independence and liberation of Australian women.
The Australian women's land army
The Australian Women's Land Army (AWLA) was formed because of the rising shortages in labour for farming. In 1941 men working in agriculture were enlisted into the Australian Military, and the shortfall of workers in the rural areas allowed for women between the ages of 18 to 50 to be recruited in the AWLA. Workers were mostly recruited from urban areas and were inexperienced in rural work. Members were instructed on farming and undertook work in primary industries. Women worked an average of 48 hours a week and the wage started at 30 shillings a week.
"Recruits for the AWLA were assessed for fitness and we had to accept the condition that we must go when and where directed. Our uniform was exactly the same as AWAS. Our hours were 28 days work with two days off each month (and nowhere to go)."
Isobel Anstee
The Lands Army functioned in two divisions:
Full time members: enrolled for continuous service for 12 months.
Auxiliary members: worked for periods no less that four weeks at nominated times of the year and worked in seasonal rural operations.
In celebration of the 70th anniversary of the AWLA formation, the Australian government agreed to recognise and acknowledge the 'land army girls'.
"Recruits for the AWLA were assessed for fitness and we had to accept the condition that we must go when and where directed. Our uniform was exactly the same as AWAS. Our hours were 28 days work with two days off each month (and nowhere to go)."
Isobel Anstee
The Lands Army functioned in two divisions:
Full time members: enrolled for continuous service for 12 months.
Auxiliary members: worked for periods no less that four weeks at nominated times of the year and worked in seasonal rural operations.
In celebration of the 70th anniversary of the AWLA formation, the Australian government agreed to recognise and acknowledge the 'land army girls'.
1944 CARtoon
The expectation for women's pay during war was 54 per cent of the male rate for the same or similar work. The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) campaign called for women working in heavy industries to be paid the same wages as men at least for the duration of war. With the fear that this would cause women to expect higher pay in all fields of work, the Commonwealth Government made a compromise by establishing the Women's Employment Board. The decision was that the rates for women's pay would range between 60-100 per cent of the male rates. However, only about nine per cent of the female workers benefited from the system.
War allowed women to work beyond their traditional roles however women's efforts in war did little to change the traditional perceptions of women's roles in society.
War allowed women to work beyond their traditional roles however women's efforts in war did little to change the traditional perceptions of women's roles in society.