Affiliate Institution
Abstract
The period of the World War 1saw changes in perception of the society concerning the gender roles. This work intends to examine the effects of the World War 1 and the way the interaction of the society changed the dimensions in the workplace. Importantly, this analysis depended on the secondary materials. The written literature in the various thoughts of the war was very central in this analysis. The information is then employed to help in determining the transition in the public views of societal relationship. For instance, the work looks at the periods, before, during and after the war. The work then ends by examining the industrial effect of women movements, and the kind of recognition women received in particular positions that men had been occupying. This research revealed that women became more aware of their strengths and never gave up in fighting for their jobs (Dean & Dilmaghani, 2014).
Keywords: World War 1, society, perception, workplace
Introduction
During 1914-1918, the world powers were uprising against each other on the premises of economic, political and social reasons. During the same time, many lives and property were lost. In fact, this conflict and the world division later led to the period of the great depression that affected the global economy (Dean & Dilmaghani, 2014). Moreover, there were gender transitions that took the toll during and after the world war. According to the historical documents, the world war brought both men and women from all parts of the world into the battlefield. This is the time both genders realized the importance of working together to achieve a shared agenda. Men and women from Africa, Europe, and Asia, were in a collaborative spirit in understanding the united strength in the fight. Besides, strong use of technology was employed. In fact, the war saw the world powers using heavy machines to attack humanity. Inherently, this work intends to examine the effect of the war on gender roles in places of work, and the way these changes have affected people’s perception of gender roles. The First World War had as many effects at home as it did in the trenches. The mass death and time away altered how industrialized nations coped with their economy. Women and the families were thrust into new positions as well, and many women and children had to take the place of the fathers, brothers and husbands who were fighting.
WW1 Impact
Before WW1
Men Roles
In reality, men were responsible for feeding and protecting the community against any external invasion. Whenever there was any important decision on a serious matter, men could only collect themselves to deliberate on the same. In other words, the society perceived women to belong to a kitchen and to take care of children. Throughout the war period, many men stayed on camps and battlefronts, leaving women to take care of everything back at home (Katz, Kroft, Lange & Notowidigo, 2014). In fact, men made decisions in every problem. They had full authority over women in every realm of life. In churches, they were the leaders and could resolve anything without the consent of women, and they were to follow their edicts without an objection. In the family, even if a boy child was younger, he was regarded more importantly than the girls was. In fact, the male first born in the family would assume the position of the father in matters that needed complex decision-making, even if the mother was present.
Women Jobs
Many societies looked at women as people who could only perform domestic roles. As a result, they were less important in the family and could only remain home servants to men. They were to make men happy and serve their interests without questioning. More harshly, they were regarded as sexual objects that men could use at their wish (Dean & Dilmaghani, 2014). In fact, they were living at the whims of men, and could not go against their spells. Economically, they always remained at home tilling the farm, while men were out doing other important works in the field and other labor markets. Their voices were never heard and lived under the subordination of men, and could only achieve a thin recognition in the absence of men. In other words, while the male counterparts were not present, they could perform the various roles they were serving.
Impact in the Society
The majority of people did not believe that women could play in certain positions. This is an entire show that the stereotype about women had been deeply embedded in the people’s minds that even if they could achieve, it was hard to accept it as a reality. Women could work hard to feed and maintain the children and the elderly while their husbands were away. This, in turn, informed the society that women could perform certain roles effectively above the initial perception. The community realized an enormous gap in the understanding of women concerning women (Dean & Dilmaghani, 2014). In fact, a woman’s word was never taken seriously, even if it had the actual relevance of truth. This lowered women’s self-esteem, making them believe that they were worth nothing much. On the other hand, men remained the top leaders and decision makers in the society. This is something that existed in every community, where every culture had various norms that channeled the same feeling. Therefore, it was very true that women lived below men in the category of human hierarchy.
During the WW1
Gender Roles
Men Roles
During the war period, the gender roles remained imbalanced, meaning men remained at the top of the ladder, as women remained answerable to their edicts. Men could decide the directions and the way the war had to take. They left women at home and went to the battlefield (Mitchener & Yan, 2014). During the same time, men considered themselves stronger than women did. However, as the war continued, it touched the civilian territories, leading to revolutionary thought on how the war was taking its dimension. Furthermore, the combat was still under the dominance of men. Every leader in the war front was a man. The advisors were inherently them though there was a looming need for women participation in the support of the military. These fighters needed food, and sometimes the supply of the ammunitions. Men all over the world could live away from their homes, fighting to defend their countries. Even if women could feature in the battlefields, their number was mild.
Women's Job
Women began supporting the families back at home when their husbands were away fighting. They could ensure that the families are safe, eat well and get proper care. They could also channel their support to the sick, weak and the elderly, who remained with them at home during the war period. Moreover, the war started hitting on their positions, as the it was not only targeting the military at the battlefields but also spread to the civilians (Dean & Dilmaghani, 2014). Meaning that the army camps had to be erected close to where they lived. Therefore, during the combat organisations, they could serve the soldiers with food and supply them with some weapons when they would get them for them. As a result, women started interacting with the arms and began adopting the spirits and skills of fighting. In fact, before the end of the First World War, women from the regions like Belgium and the United States of America had gotten hold of weapons with an intention to fight.
The Impact on the Society
The societies still maintained the stereotypic mind that women were subordinates to men. On the other end, women were becoming aware of their strengths and could start testing their skills in various realms of human interaction. Their movements towards recognition started looming, since they could remind their husbands that they had taken care of the family while they were away (Dean & Dilmaghani, 2014). They were becoming united, and the same way men did in order to be recognized. The world leadership was becoming aware that the society needs to work together to achieve positive results, rather than relying on one gender alone. As this was taking place, women started calling for recognition in the areas of education. The attention even though slight started getting to the direction of men.
After the WW1
Gender Roles
Men Roles
Even after the war, men still regarded themselves important. However, the perception of women on the ground was beginning to change (Mitchener & Yan, 2014). This kind of an alarming mood made men begin embracing women in their endeavors. Although they were stiff, men could start listening to women when they were speaking. Furthermore, men remained the final speakers and decision makers in everything. They were leaders and could only seek advice from their female counterparts. On the other hand, other men were taking different positions in supporting women to look for spaces in the men’s share. They started demanding for voting rights of women, and women participation in the world matters. This means that there was a new wave of movement taking place, transiting the society from what it was initial, to a new dimension.
Women Jobs
After the WW1, women attitudes were revolutionary changing, and could challenge themselves to engage in outdoor activities. In addition, women could take positions in the military, and could prove to do well than other men (Mitchener & Yan, 2014). They could quickly master the skills and use them in the best way. Meaning, women became more mindful of their powers and were becoming bigoted to men supremacy in the position of leadership and employment. From then, women have never relented in the fight for gender parity. They later tried to look for avenues to advocate for their recognition, the drive that became popular as feminist movements. In every part of the world, women voices were growing louder calling for womenfolk’s acknowledgment. Before then, the society believed that wives should not take the position of their husbands. Even in the families, the community made women second class to men. The women thinking were taking a new dimension that was very different from what existed initially.
The Impact in the Society
In various states, the war became everybody activity regardless of gender. As the war proceeded, many civilians suffered the fate. This is what made both men and women to engage their minds in the affairs of the war (Acemoglu et al., 2014). Women became active members in the general affairs of the world. In fact, they could engage in voting and other patriotic events. In addition, women became more serious in fighting for their rights that became more active as the time changes. They were going to school and could get good certificates to prepare them for job opportunities just like men. They were aggressive and were more responsive of their strengths. The society was giving more space for women to channel their moves. Even though they got enrollment in the junior positions like teaching, office secretaries, and nursing, it was unique that they could perform better than the society thought of them. In retrospect, other men were also joining women movements to help them raise their voices. The feminist movements were becoming so popular than before. Moreover, President Roosevelt made them so robust when he organized a propaganda campaign that centered on women recognition later during the periods of the cold war.
Industrial Life
Women Movement
Women movement was becoming more robust and widespread during the industrial period. In fact, they were belligerent and were more conscious of their strengths. The society was becoming more tolerant to feminist movements in all spheres of life, notably education, places of worship, workplaces and in the families (Manasse & Manfredi, 2014). They were enrolled in junior positions like education, office secretaries and nursing. It was clear that they could achieve better results than the society thought of them. In recollection, other men were also getting interested in the women movements to help them raise their voices. The feminist movements were becoming so prevalent in every part of the world. More outstandingly, President Roosevelt made them so strong with his publicity movement that centered on women recognition later during the periods of the cold war. Throughout the same period, many scholarly kinds of literature addressed issues touching on women freedom and liberty. They were united and had their leaders strong who invigorated their participation in these movements. Therefore, the job market was getting a new picture, meaning the men domination realized a downward change. The world leadership was becoming aware that the society needs to work together to achieve positive results, rather than relying on one gender alone. As this was taking place, women started calling for recognition in the positions of education. The attention even though mild, started getting to the direction of men. In fact, women scored higher with their movements during the modern period. Therefore, it is worth noting that the experience of the world war made many tremendous changes in the perception of gender roles.
Impact of Women Movement
Women became recognized in the leadership positions and other job markets. The society acknowledged the positive role of women rather than looking at them as subordinates to men (Braun et al., 2015). They had mastered the important skills and used them in the best way to make their positions stronger. Meaning, women became more cognizant of the need of strengths and were becoming bigoted to men supremacy in the position of leadership and employment. From then, women have never given up in the fight for gender equality. The effect of their movements is still real today. They later tried to seek for paths to backer for their respect. In every part of the world women voices had achieved audience and were getting more serious. Some women even decided to avoid getting pregnant in order to be flexible to fight with men in the special positions.
Child Role
Children were being groomed in what the society understood to be the best ways to bring up them. In every part of the world, there was the issue of gender sensitivity in children support. The dimension was getting a more different thought, meaning that every child was to get equal treatment in every sphere of life. Initially, only the male child would get privileges like education and family inheritance. The girls were only to grow up to be a wife who would bear children to the husband. In this new thinking, every child was important regardless of the sex, a reality that has continued until today. Initially, the boy child could command respect from the female counterpart even if she was older than he was. This has inherently changed, and the children get equal treatment through the spirit of gender equity.
Conclusion
The world war made both sexes to realize the importance of doing things together to achieve a common goal. However, men had full authority over women in every realm of life. In all spheres, they were the leaders and could resolve anything without the consent of women, and they were to follow their edicts without an objection Men and women from Africa, Europe and Asia, were in concerted effects in realizing the combined effort in the fight. Besides, fervent use of technology was employed. Women were becoming active members in the affairs of the world. In fact, they could engage in voting and other patriotic events. In addition, women became more severe in fighting for their rights that they became more active as the time changes. They were going to school and could get proper certificates to prepare them for job opportunities just like men. They were aggressive and were more aware if their strengths. The society was giving more space for women to channel their moves. The feminist movements were becoming so popular in the global realm. Furthermore, the world leadership was becoming aware that the society needs to work together to achieve positive results, rather than relying on one gender alone. Therefore, it was supporting women to achieve recognition.
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