Women in the Workforce
During World War 2, women on the home front had to deal with the consequences of war such as managing family responsibilities alone, shortage of resources and the grief of losing loved ones. Due to the shortage of male workers, women were recruited into the workforce - working in non-traditional occuptions such as mechanics, truck driver, technicians, welders, signallers and other various jobs in factories and shipyards, an as members of the Women's Land Army. Women began undertaking the same training as men.
Government propaganda and patriotic women's magazines, such as the Australian Women's Weekly, began depicting women in the workforce/'working women' very positively. They were encouraged to enlist in services such as the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS), Australian Army Medical Women's service(AAMWS), Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS), Volunteer AId Detachment (VAD), Women's Australian Auxiliary Air Force (WAAAF) and the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS).
This also provided opportunity for women to enter other proffessions. The first female conductors appeared on trams in September 1942 and three months later was allowed to join the Police Force as drivers, clerks and storepersons. When the War ended, however, picture promoting the 'working women' were quickly replaced by images of brides and housewives.
Government propaganda and patriotic women's magazines, such as the Australian Women's Weekly, began depicting women in the workforce/'working women' very positively. They were encouraged to enlist in services such as the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS), Australian Army Medical Women's service(AAMWS), Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS), Volunteer AId Detachment (VAD), Women's Australian Auxiliary Air Force (WAAAF) and the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS).
This also provided opportunity for women to enter other proffessions. The first female conductors appeared on trams in September 1942 and three months later was allowed to join the Police Force as drivers, clerks and storepersons. When the War ended, however, picture promoting the 'working women' were quickly replaced by images of brides and housewives.