Iraq war Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Iraq war - Essay Example Women, in particular, assailed by a series of unending attacks to their humanity and had to claw at what appears to be a hint of hope for survival. Class distinctions broke down and the formerly rich women adjusted to life’s painful realities that they had to live like the rest of the commoners. â€Å"Mass observation surveys conducted during 1941 found that many who advocated conscription believed it would force ‘idle rich girls’ to work.† (Smith, 1986, p. 215) The war demanded enormous manpower, not just in the armed forces, but also in industry. Millions of men joined the forces, which left many industries without a satisfactory workforce. The government realised that this shortfall had to be filled, approximately one and a half million workers were needed in munitions alone and it was vital to keep up the production of essential wartime machinery and equipment. The new realities faced by the women necessitated that they likewise take part in the war effort in any capacity they can. Most women had to leave their homes to work in a variety of occupations. The ‘Registration of Employment Order’ was introduced in the spring of 1941, forcing everyone to declare their existing work-based situation, which allowed the government to record the details of those that needed directing into vital war work. This encouraged approximately eighty-seven thousand women into work in the auxiliary services and munitions. However, there was still a shortage of people undertaking vital war work and, as a result of this, the government introduced the National Service Number Two Act in December 1941, which made the conscription of unmarried and childless women aged twenty to thirty mandatory. Many women had mixed feelings about this. They could be posted anywhere in the country, miles away from their families, often for the very first time. Some were pleased with the opportunity to escape and explore; others were unhappy about