Collective Identity in 1940s

To understand how the identity of

British women in the 1940s started
to change
In general the war meant a new economic and social
freedom for women, the experience of which could
never be entirely lost Marwick

With this shift in their identity womens original
role of wife and mother was now being
challenged and film was a way of discussing this.
Collective Identity Shifts
1940s British women experienced a series of
transformations because of the war.
There was a labour shortage so women went to
work in place of the men. They got paid for that
work so felt more independent. The Government
provided nurseries for the children, so women were
no longer tied to the home. The birth rate fell,
illegitimacy increased and the divorce rate rose.
Married women were no longer the icons of
decency and stability Lant
The image of ideal motherhood was shaken as
women saw the possibility of freeing themselves
from the traditional role of wife and mother.

The dominant ideology of that day was that
women were expected to get married, have
children, and stay within the family unit.

Most women before the war would ADHERE to
the dominant ideological perspective that a
womans place was in the home
Throughout the war women were leaving their
traditional roles of wife and mother and
becoming independent workers.

When the war ended women were expected to
return to their domestic roles which caused
conflict for women as a collective identity.
Women's Identity During World War II
Dominant Ideology
The dominant ideology of the day was that
women should have domestic roles, looking after
the home, bringing up the children and taking
care of the breadwinner father.
Although the ideology changed during the war
out of necessity, after the war, the dominant
ideology was still to maintain the institution of
the family which meant women needed to
return to the home this is why A Brief
Encounter (1945) would have been released.
"Identity is a shifting.....temporary
construction" Foucault
Before WWII most married women remained in
the home. Dependent on the husband
economically.
During WWII 6.5 million women worked, nearly
another half a million were serving in the military
After war, the men returned and women were no
longer needed, but their identity had changed.
A Vacation from Marriage (1945)
A Vacation from Marriage (1945)

Changing
Society/Identity/Representation
British women were represented as mothers and
wives before the war. This image supported the
dominant ideology of gender roles.
During the war British women were represented
as both wives and mothers and working women
to reflect what was happening
After the war films began to discuss the situation
whereby women had become emancipated and
men were returning home wanting everything to
be as it was. There was this continual conflict.
Task
Discuss Foucaults statement that Identity is
a .shifting temporary construction.
Using examples from A Brief Encounter (1945)
and A Vacation from Marriage (1945).