Womens Services in World War 2

womens services in ww2

About 70,000 Australian women served in one of the women's auxiliary services - Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF), Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS), Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS) and Women's Land Army (AWLA) (which was not considered a full service at the time).

Women's services were unique to the Second World War. There was a lot of effort spent trying to recruit women for them and about 6000 women who joined served overseas. Many women who served described the experience as a highlight of their lives.

But was the reality of service the same as the image of service which was presented?

Your task is to compare the image and reality for the largest of the women's services, the WAAAF, and write an entry for a school text book which summarises your conclusions about women's service during the war.

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