During the Second World War, women had gained a sense of independence and empowerment from the jobs they undertook. However, this sense of joy was temporary as once the war ended, they were expected to return back to their main priority: stay-at-home housewife and childcare. Many women were not ready to give up their jobs, however, and the post-war period saw a rise in campaigning.
The government required women’s workforce in the labour market due to the post-war reconstruction and to ensure economic growth after it was destabilised during WW2. The government created jobs specifically for women which consisted of nursing, midwifery and cleaning.
During this period, the Marriage Bar was still in operation whereby married women were restricted from certain jobs. This demonstrated a negative connotation to women working as despite the war efforts, there was still discrimination against women and the Marriage Bar prevented for women from all age groups to be able to obtain work. But it eventually became less common and more women, including married, were working for wages rather than voluntarily basis.
The Census reported that 26% of married women were employed outside of the home in 1951, which continues to rise up to 35% in 1961 and 49% by the early 1970s.[1] Whilst the percentage rise is gradual, it still indicates that the roles of women were being redefined after WW2 and many women were choosing to continue paid employment up until the birth of their first child. Having an earlier marriage meant that the average British woman would complete her ‘main business’ of childbearing by the age of thirty-five and continue to focus on her career until retirement. This pattern was commonly referred to as the ‘dual role.’[2]
In Canada, women were eager to retain their jobs post-war after having pride of their contribution towards the war effort. They were not willing to settle for inadequate jobs with poor conditions. Women refused jobs such as laundry work, household labour and staff on public payroll complained that it was next to impossible to get women to take these jobs. There was a general belief that women would eventually lose interest and leave the labour force through marriage but applications continued to get rejected as woman waited for ‘higher priced opportunities.’[3] It became apparent that women were not willing to settle for less than they deserved.
Though the war had improved the position of women, they were still expected to follow the status quo of having their first priority as concerned with family. There was still discrimination in the workplace for women which included sexual harassment and slurs, and also unequal pay which led to the rise of campaigning in the late 1950 onwards.
[1] H. McCarthy, ‘Women, Marriage and Paid Work in Post-war Britain’, Women’s History Review, vol. 26 (2017) p.3
[2] ibid., pg.3
[3] J. A. Stephen, Pick One Intelligent Girl: Employability, Domesticity and the Gendering of Canada’ Welfare State, 1939-1947’ (Toronto, University of Toronto Press, 2007), p. 103
BIBILOGRAPHY
McCarthy, Helen, ‘Women, Marriage and Paid Work in Post-war Britain’, Women’s History Review, vol. 26 (2017) pp.46-61.
Stephen, Jennifer, Pick One Intelligent Girl: Employability, Domesticity and the Gendering of Canada Welfare State 1939-1947′ (Toronto, University of Toronto Press, 2007).
Wilson, Elizabeth, Only Halfway to Paradise: Women in Postwar Britain 1945-1968 (Great Britain, Tavistock Publications, 1980).
Attitudes to Women Working in the Twentieth Century 