Women in Australia over the past 100 years have made great achievements for themselves and for the future. Great achievements such as voting, equal rights, equal pay and the right to chose for themselves could only have come about because of their great struggles. These many women had to endure during that century.
Gradually things have improved for women such as the right to vote, the improvement of education, equal justice, privileges in marriage and divorce, property and the custody of children in divorce.
During world war one; women replaced men that were traditionally men only jobs. Women in the workforce rose from 24% of the total in 1914 to 37% in 1918. This was because industry was booming and needed women in the labour forces.
While men were away in world war two, women were asked to do men’s jobs both in the services and industry. By October 1942, over half a million women were employed in munitions, aircraft and shipbuilding industry.
Women’s liberation came to Australia in the 1960’s. During this time groups of women got together to demand equal pay for equal work. Women protested for the right to make decisions themselves with regards to the pill and abortion. They also fought to stop discrimination in education and the workplace and the fight against sexual harassment.
During the 19th century the women’s suffragette movement struggled for the right of women to vote. After many years of political activities women eventually gained access to voting. During the two world wars women became more prominent in the workforce and contributed more to society. Before the women’s liberations movement, women were treated as unequal to men and weren’t allowed to make the own decision.
In the late 1800’s and the early 1900’s legislation was changed to allow women to vote in Australia. This commenced the era for the gradual improvement of all women’s rights in Australia. The two world wars contributed to women taking on more roles...