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Abstract

This dissertation explores the effects of women’s war work during the Second World War on Winston Churchill’s attitudes towards women. The conscription of women into military roles in 1941 challenged established gender roles and forced the government to emphasise the femininity of military women for the sake of stability. Women’s wartime roles, especially military ones, were a point of contention within cabinet but these were largely kept private. Churchill and his cross-party national government were concerned with promoting government policy and portraying a united front to the world in a time of crisis, even though behind the doors of Westminster they often disagreed. 

 

In exploring public-facing and private sources this dissertation will identify the drastic differences in attitudes towards women that the Prime Minister presented in public and in private. As women were increasingly involved in military work and were becoming closer to the use of lethal force Churchill endorsed the agenda of the government by gradually increasing his support for women in military positions as they became increasingly necessary and successful. However, in private his attitudes were far more supportive of women’s newfound roles, surpassing the agenda of his government from the outbreak of the war. Thus, this dissertation demonstrates the value of studying ‘great men’ to reveal the ways in which their attitudes shaped and responded to broader societal change.

Course: History and Politics - BA (Hons) - C0983

Date Deposited: 2021-07-27

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis13703.html