Nice Girls and Rude Girls: Women Workers in World War I

Drawing on official records, contemporary writing and oral history, Deborah Thom examines the myth and reality of women's "experience of war." She shows that before 1914 they were often supporting dependants who had acquired considerable industrial experience and that women's trade activity was growing. The war showed that women were capable of a variety of tasks and they made great sacrifices and contributions massively to the war effort. The effect of war-work has underlined women's positions by their gender; they had changed but not improved their working lives.