Women in the War

   

Exam Practice (click here for the full markscheme)

Extraction from a Source (markscheme)

From a Mass Observation Survey.

The mother had spent most of the night trying to keep the child asleep.   The father had wanted to take over her job but she told him she could sleep while he was at work whereas he would grumble because his work wasn't done properly.   As a result the father had 4 or 5 hours of genuine sleep.   The mother is worst affected but makes the best of it: 'I'm lucky.   I manage to get an hour or two in the afternoon'.

What does Source E tell us about the problems facing women during the War?

   

  

Utility (markscheme)

From the Diary of Moyra Charlton of Essex for 3 January 1941.

Food is running very short this week, a little cheese, no tea, no meat to be had.   I think there is a hold-up in transport, but undoubtedly hunger is the least of things we will have to face before this war is over.

How useful is Source D to an historian studying the reaction of women to the war?   Use Source D and your own knowledge to answer the question.

   

  

Why produced? (markscheme)

A poster put out by the Ministry of Food.   'Medals' were awarded for thing such as 'making delicious dishes from home-grown vegetables', 'trying fresh-salted cod', 'acting on recipes and hints from Kitchen Front wireless talks', 'saving all bread crumbs ... and making crisp rusks', and 'going without, rather than pay unfairly high prices for foods that may be scarce'.

  

Why was Source G published by the Ministry of Food during the war?   Use Source G and your own knowledge to answer the question.

   

  

Evaluation of an Interpretation (markscheme)

Mona Marshall, a nursemaid who had become a steelworker during the war, said this in 1986.

The war was the best thing that ever happened to us.   I was as green as grass and terrified if anyone spoke to me...   At work you did exactly as your boss told you; then you went home to do exactly what your husband told you.   The war changed all that.   The war made me stand on my own two feet..

Is the view given in Source C an accurate interpretation of the impact of the war on women's lives?   Use Source C and your own knowledge to answer the question.

   

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