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Homework Help: Social Studies: World Issues: Women at War
by Emily McPherson
 The position of women has varied greatly in past cultures and
civilizations. In some they have been little more than the personal
property of fathers and husbands, whereas others have allowed them a
good deal of freedom and enforceable legal rights. But even in these
cases, like in Australia during war, men had more rights than women and
were generally held to be the superior sex.
As a result of the women's agitation, important legal rights were
conceded to all women many years later, including rights in respect of
their own children and control over their property.
After the war years, a greater variety of jobs became available to
women, since service industries, such as office work and education, were
expanding fast. But women continued to be paid less than men; they were kept
out of many traditionally male occupations and remained a small
minority in the upper levels of politics and business.
In many parts of the world women still lack the elementary rights,
even the right to chose whom they will marry. The
attitudes of the Catholic church, for example, and of Islamic
fundamentalism, also complicate the issue. Australian women would not
be enjoying their freedom if the past generation of females hadn't had
the responsibility to question their rights. Clearly 'the women's war'
has not yet been completely won all over the world.
Homework Help: Social Studies: World Issues
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