Journal Analele Banatului N.S. Archaeology-History

Teodora-Daniela Moţ

Contribuții feminine în prima mare conflagrație mondială / Female Contributions in the First World War

Jan. 1, 2020

Abstract

By the mobilization of millions of soldiers during the war years, the First World War was the first major conflict which brought the confrontation of the greatest European powers and also revealed the importance of the woman in the 20th century society. In her husband’s absence she became the mistress of the house, the belligerent states experiencing an exponential increase of women employed mainly in industrial work, agriculture, or even transportation. Women also joined the army auxiliary corps as nurses, technicians, telephone operators or telegraphists. As a consequence, many women have begun to become aware of their new roles in society and to openly display and assert their new attributes of independence. The First World War was a modern, technological conflict that tested and smashed the codes and expectations regarding male courage and masculinity in general. It represented a turning point and a catalyst for change in the history of the 20th century in terms of gender relations, women actively getting involved in restoring the global balance. Through all these, the dawn of a new era was anticipated. One of the aspects that most visibly influenced the change of women’s status during the First World War was their access to a wide variety of occupations in areas previously reserved only for men, once it became clear that this conflict would be neither short-term nor an easy one. From these points of view, the war was perceived as a strong impetus for female emancipation and for the exit of women from their traditional roles deeply rooted in the collective memory of the time.