Red Clydeside: Weekend munition work for educated women [leaflet] (original) (raw)

Red Clydeside

Timeline of events

1915

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The nature of women's work during the first world war represented a challenge to the established norms and was instrumental in bringing about change from the Victorian stereotype of the acquiescent and subservient 'ideal woman'. Although this stereotype was already being challenged by the Suffragettes and by a small band of politically aware women, it would be the legions of ordinary women who took up positions within the factories and shipyards who would do the most to help overcome resistance to change with regard to the changing role of women in society.

After the introduction of conscription in March 1916, the government encouraged women to take the place of male employees who had been released from their normal occupations to serve at the front. The munitions works were deemed a vital sector of Britain's wartime industry. Whereas in July 1914, 212,000 women were working in engineering and munitions, by 1918 the total was nearly a million.

Munitions production was dangerous. TNT poisoning was a hazard and the threat from explosives detonating during the manufacture of shells was a very real one, with over 200 female munitions workers being killed in accidental explosions during the first world war. Shifts were long, between 8 to 12 hours, and the nature of the work meant that female workers were on their feet throughout. However, compared to other industrial war work, it was well paid and often done at night which meant that women could do their housework in the daytime.

Source: Weir Papers, Glasgow University Archives

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