“Changes to the role and status of women as a result of war were limited.” Discuss with reference to two wars, each from a different region.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the statement that changes to the role and status of women as a result of the war were limited. The two wars must be from different regions. Changes may extend beyond the timeframe but they must be clearly linked to the issue raised in the question. Candidates may offer equal coverage of both wars or they may prioritize their discussion of one of them. However, both wars will be a feature of the response. Candidates may refer to the static or changing roles assumed by women in the wartime or post-war economy. Candidates may choose a total war in which women replaced men, or a limited war with little significant change. Candidates may also consider movements (such as suffragettes) and the rights acquired in post-war periods. Candidates may propose that changes were neither long lasting nor uniformly experienced across social classes or geographic areas. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the statement that changes to the role and status of women as a result of the war were limited. Each war was to be chosen from a different region. As in past sessions, a question on the role of women was generally not well-answered. Many candidates used the two world wars as examples with stronger responses recognizing the difference in the role allocated to women in Germany as compared to Allied countries within the context of the Second World War. Likewise, Mao's post-civil war reforms were generally handled in some detail and with greater success. Many responses, however, were limited to vague assertions stating that women entered the workforce in larger numbers during wartime only to return to domestic duties once the war was over.