1 As we examine the construction of Australia’s strong sense of national identity, we cannot overlook the events of The Great War. Significantly cementing itself as a defining moment in world history, The Great War saw Australia, a then young and new nation, assert itself as a united country. Here we are presented with various ideals that would contribute to this structure; the birth of the ANZAC legend, the sacrificing of lives in the hope of securing the protection of the commonwealth, as well as the uniting of an entire country, still young since the federation of its colonies in 1901. But what we as historians will also note is the evident male dominance that would preside at the time and would remain a key factor in our recalling the events of such a historically THE ROLE OF AUSTRALIAN WOMEN DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR: DOTING MOTHERS AND WIVES OR ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THE SHAPING OF A NATION?
12
Embed
Amanda Lamanna - The Role of Australian Women During the First World War- More Than Just Doting Wives and Mothers Essay .pdf
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
1
As we examine the construction of Australia’s strong sense of national identity, we
cannot overlook the events of The Great War. Significantly cementing itself as a defining
moment in world history, The Great War saw Australia, a then young and new nation,
assert itself as a united country. Here we are presented with various ideals that would
contribute to this structure; the birth of the ANZAC legend, the sacrificing of lives in the
hope of securing the protection of the commonwealth, as well as the uniting of an entire
country, still young since the federation of its colonies in 1901. But what we as
historians will also note is the evident male dominance that would preside at the time
and would remain a key factor in our recalling the events of such a historically
THE ROLE OF AUSTRALIAN WOMEN DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR: DOTING MOTHERS AND WIVES OR ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THE SHAPING OF A NATION?
2
significant period in time. This essay will explore female participation to the war effort
and thus to the building of a national identity.
When examining the role of women during The Great War we are welcomed with an
unappreciated history of forgotten heroes. Through the creation of numerous
organisations, women would see themselves welcomed with endless hours of voluntary
work. Such charitable work included the production of care packages for soldiers
serving abroad, the caring of returned veterans as well as wives widowed by the
endeavours of war. Women would also fill various work-related positions with many
men resigning to serve with the army. And finally, possibly the most significant sacrifice
of all made by women during The First World War, would be the sacrificing of husbands
and sons to the war effort in the hope of securing the survival of a nation. However after
the closing of the chapter that would forever remain the Great War, women would
remain unappreciated for their efforts. In a predominately male war, women, though
determined to exhaust all possible avenues in the hope of contributing to the war effort,
would remain restricted and unnoticed.
Lady Helen Munro Ferguson’s Red Cross
During the period of the First World War women would take many avenues in their
hope of contributing to the war effort. Voluntary work would become part of everyday
life for many women at this time. Unable to fight on the front lines, women were
determined to do whatever they could to contribute. Just days after the declaration of
VOLUNTEERNG FOR THE WAR EFFORT
3
war Lady Helen Munro
Ferguson established
the Australian Red
Cross on the 13th of
August 19141.
Figure 1.
Lady Helen Munro
Ferguson, Founder of the
Australian Red Cross in
1914.
The main aim for The Red Cross was to tend to injured veterans returning home from
the front, coming back not quite the same way they left. These women would provide
soldiers with shelter, food and clothing2. Their time would be sacrificed to look after and
attend to men unable to care for themselves. The Red Cross also aided in the raising of
funds to be spent on both the Australian Forces and Empire Forces. Through charity
1 Redcross.org.au, 'Red Cross Commemorates ANZAC Legacy | Australian Red Cross' (2014)