Women's Contributions to the War Effort

• • Importance: they took over roles from the men and helped farm and create war weapons to help the fight
• • Nurses were sometimes called “Sisters of Mercy” or “Angels of Mercy”
  • Nicknamed “Bluebirds” because of their blue uniforms and white veils
• • 30 000 women gained employment in machine shops, metal factories, and shipyards
  • Worked making guns, bullets, bombs, uniforms, ships, tanks, and planes
• • Much opposition for women moving into the public sphere of work
  • Paid 50% of a man's wage