Understanding womenʼs work during the great war Cover Image

K razumevanju ženskega dela v veliki vojni
Understanding womenʼs work during the great war

Author(s): Urška Strle
Subject(s): Gender Studies, Economic history, Gender history, Pre-WW I & WW I (1900 -1919)
Published by: Inštitut za novejšo zgodovino
Keywords: world war I;1914–1918;women; war economy;workforce; women's work;home front;Austria-Hungary;Austro - Hungarian Empire;Slovenia;

Summary/Abstract: The article deals with the intersection of war economy and women’s workforce during World War I and pays a special attention to the Slovenian population. Using a variety of sources, the author tries to synthesise the generalities and specifics of the women’s involvement into the war economy in the so-called Slovenian lands. War economy is understood in the broadest sense and includes not only armament and war-related production, but also the acute issue of supplies for the military and civil sphere. The economic role of the Slovenian lands, peripheral within the Habsburg Monarchy, and the social structure of the Slovenian population profoundly affected the way how women were being included into the activities at the home front. The author argues that the sensational images from Western Europe, presenting a massive inclusion of women into the war industry, are not typical for the Slovenian space. However, the role of women in the war economy should not be underestimated, for they represented the majority of economically active population, supporting not only the civil society but also the army.

  • Issue Year: 55/2015
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 103-125
  • Page Count: 23
  • Language: Slovenian