The reason for the beginning of World War 1 is still debated, but what is clear to everyone, is that WW1 was a game changer in all spheres: political, military, and especially social. As the war progressed, social boundaries were broken out of necessity, and unseen until then, women were directly involved in the war. Two countries in particular addressed women and directly injected them into the war efforts, although the style of their involvement was different, it lead women in both countries to experience freedom from their usual roles and set the stage for their demand of more change. In Britain and Russia, women were crucial to the war efforts, but their involvement was different in each country, and thus the magnitude of change in women roles after the war was also different. There is much debate for whether the war was the cause of change in women roles or if it was a natural progression in women’s efforts for equality before the war, and although it might not have been the main cause, it is indeed the catalyst that lead to change – or the lack of it.
To understand the impact of the war on the role of women, one must first analyze their actual involvement in the war to comprehend what factors lead to change.
Before WW1, women in Britain were constrained to what were considered to be “woman jobs”, such as teaching, the textile industry, nursing, commerce, or domestic work. Those that worked in factories were paid much lower wages than their male counterparts, and although unjust it was the only work available to them. Women suffrage was very active in Britain, but their efforts seemed to be arriving at a standstill. When war broke out many women actively supported the war hoping that it would help their chances for change.
Russia on the other hand, was still under Tsarist Russia, which expected women to maintain traditional roles; but as royalty unraveled and communism began to spread throughout Russia, their ideology of equality for all – including women – began to make Russian women lean towards communism and support the cause.
Once war broke out, women’s involvement was necessary, especially at the home front, where as
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