World War I

World War I (1914-1919) marked a new era in women's participation in the public sphere. Women from all walks of life found themselves active in the war effort at home and overseas. Some provided medical service on the battlefield or entered the civilian workforce. Other women served as members of a diplomatic family.

By 1918, nearly three million new women entered food, textile, and other industries supporting the war effort. Some 11,000 civilian women served as nurses alongside numerous sisters from religious orders. With the male workforce diverted to the military, this was the first time that many women worked outside the home. Often, the positions they assumed had previously been restricted to men. Women also found ways to contribute outside of the bounds of employment. Subject to invasions and air raids, some diplomatic wives provided service to families left homeless by the fighting.

Focusing on the words and illustrations of women from different social backgrounds, this section highlights these varied activities.