Factors which lead to the empowered women

1. Factors which lead to the empowered women

2. The War Effort • The main social factors which forced women to think outside the box and become more socially proactive was that of the main role offered to women through the AIF. That role being nursing, although some other roles where that of other medical positions, and red cross volunteers. These positions where filled to some degree however there was an element of restriction on these positions. The restrictions being that only single or widowed women could join up. Some statistics to enforce the limited number of woman officially involved. 7 where under 21, even though the minimum age was 25, 1184 where aged between 21 and 30, 947 where aged between 31 and 40 and 91 women where 41years or greater of age. • These statistics show that only a minimal amount of women where actively involved officially, leaving a large gap that needed to be filled by the other married socially active percentage of the population. This percentage is the one which thrust the empowerment of women into light in Sydney.

3. These women who couldn’t officially help fight found themselves in positions traditionally held be the males of the household. Statistics point to an almost desertion of domestic tasks to that of the labor industry. This empowerment of money and freedom was a corner stone of realization for the Sydney woman as it showed that they could carry our both domestic work and be useful in the workforce. This independence was not subsided in the interwar years as a new woman was formed. • These emerging social factors lead other women to become part of the university community and seek work in a professional career catering to up to 30% of the Sydney university population, at the outbreak of the 2nd world war

4. Empowered women • A case study. • A case study of a local Sydney women by the name of Agnes Bennett highlights the perception of married women and their struggles to help the men fighting at the front. Agnes was a successful doctor with three brothers enlisted in the AIF. When she intends to sign up she is told by the enlistment officer who is far less qualified than she is to go home and knit in order to help. This enrages her, so she calls her old professor DR ingles who promptly offers her a position as a head surgeon in France. This case study highlights the desire that a majority of women had to help in the war effort, and to utilize their skills outside of domestic work. • This highlights the emotion of the new women as it shows her inability to sit in the home and be muted by social norms and constraints