Prior to the beginning of World War One, women were typically home duties, as well as small percentages of nurses, teachers, seamstresses and domestics. However, during World War One, as there were over 300,000 women had to take hold of and replace the jobs of the absent men. Unlike Germany or Britain, not many women participated in factory work but they did take up previously male-dominated jobs like office workers and bank officers. When the war finally ended and the servicemen returned, most women resumed their domestic roles and home duties. After World War One, the percentage of women working outside the home had increased by 13%, and this was indicated by the fact that many women remained in their positions. Most were typists, secretaries or telephonists, and some worked industrial occupations.
When World War Two started, many new job opportunities opened up for women. Women were finally permitted to serve in the military, and these servicewomen predominantly worked on the home front, where they did jobs like driving trucks and taxis, and manufactured munitions. Although, in doing this work, their salaries were only a fraction of those of men.
Between 1939 and 1945, there was an increase of only 5% of women involved in the workforce. The most significant statistic was the increased variety of work allowed for women to take. As well as industrial activities, they also worked as agricultural labourers, and farmed crops to feed Australia, and preventing them from starving like the British had in the First World War. The women who worked on the front lines, would hold jobs like operating anti-aircraft guns, acting as medics and nurses, and being signallers and tank workers in the Australian Womens' Army Service.
When World War Two started, many new job opportunities opened up for women. Women were finally permitted to serve in the military, and these servicewomen predominantly worked on the home front, where they did jobs like driving trucks and taxis, and manufactured munitions. Although, in doing this work, their salaries were only a fraction of those of men.
Between 1939 and 1945, there was an increase of only 5% of women involved in the workforce. The most significant statistic was the increased variety of work allowed for women to take. As well as industrial activities, they also worked as agricultural labourers, and farmed crops to feed Australia, and preventing them from starving like the British had in the First World War. The women who worked on the front lines, would hold jobs like operating anti-aircraft guns, acting as medics and nurses, and being signallers and tank workers in the Australian Womens' Army Service.