Women during WW2

Soon after the outbreak of World War II, Australian women showed that they were determined to contribute to the war effort. Despite this they faced strong opposition from the government and military leaders who were reluctant to allow them into battle zones. Women were mainly trained as nurses, drivers, signallers and motor mechanics.

In 1939 Australia was still very much a man dominated country. Prejudice against women to undertake men’s work ran deeply, women’s employment was limited, and their capacity to fight was scarcely recognised. The scale and duration of World War II, together with the pressure from women brought numerous women into the armed forces. So the changes were more the result of necessity rather than a change in attitudes.

When the war broke out most men expected women to fulfil their traditional roles of nursing the sick and wounded, caring for people at home, and comforting soldiers on the battle front. Some ...