Source Analysis of WWI WOmen
How useful would sources A and D be to a historian studying the role of British women during World War One? In your answer consider the reliability and perspective provided by each source.
Source C:
Source C is highly relevant to the historian’s study of the role of British women during World War One. The perspective provided by Item One details the societal expectations of women at the outbreak of the war and the perception that they should encourage men, in particular their husbands to enlist for the army. This perspective is represented through the idea that during 1914 Britons were expected to contribute to the war effort to some degree, even women. The perspective provided by Item two specifies the importance of women and their contribution to Britain during World War One. The item provides a perspective of the vitality of women and their involvement, specifically to the munition industry. Both items detail the progression of changing social expectations of women during WWI, and how through the progression of the war, with the onset of the stalemate and the acceptation of the war of attrition, women’s societal role drastically transformed.
Source C is not a reliable source of information. The nature of the sources is British official war posters. This detracts from the reliability as war posters are used as propaganda, with both items specifically aimed to persuade the audience (women) to increase their contribution to the war effort. The perspective of the creator of the source of item one is that of the British Parliamentary Recruiting Committee, decreasing the reliability of the source since the committee aimed to increase enlisting figures by creating an influential propaganda campaign. Similarly, the perspective of item two decreases the reliability since the poster is from a nationalised government industry who are aiming to persuade women to become munition workers. The motive of both items is to encourage the audience (women) to believe they
Source C:
Source C is highly relevant to the historian’s study of the role of British women during World War One. The perspective provided by Item One details the societal expectations of women at the outbreak of the war and the perception that they should encourage men, in particular their husbands to enlist for the army. This perspective is represented through the idea that during 1914 Britons were expected to contribute to the war effort to some degree, even women. The perspective provided by Item two specifies the importance of women and their contribution to Britain during World War One. The item provides a perspective of the vitality of women and their involvement, specifically to the munition industry. Both items detail the progression of changing social expectations of women during WWI, and how through the progression of the war, with the onset of the stalemate and the acceptation of the war of attrition, women’s societal role drastically transformed.
Source C is not a reliable source of information. The nature of the sources is British official war posters. This detracts from the reliability as war posters are used as propaganda, with both items specifically aimed to persuade the audience (women) to increase their contribution to the war effort. The perspective of the creator of the source of item one is that of the British Parliamentary Recruiting Committee, decreasing the reliability of the source since the committee aimed to increase enlisting figures by creating an influential propaganda campaign. Similarly, the perspective of item two decreases the reliability since the poster is from a nationalised government industry who are aiming to persuade women to become munition workers. The motive of both items is to encourage the audience (women) to believe they