The University of Worcester is one of the key partners in the delivery of both a major conference and accompanying Jamboree that will explore how World War 1 affected the place of women in society, both during the conflict, and following 1918's armistice.
The event is being organised by Maggie Andrews, Professor of Cultural History at the University of Worcester, who said: "Although the Great War is often seen as a time of change, offering new opportunities for women, the conflict was not experienced in the same way by all."
"Working opportunities on the land, in munitions, clerical work, transport services and the armed forces gave young women in particular a chance to experience a modicum of freedom, but The war also created new problems as women struggled to feed their families, care for children and make ends meet; struggles which often continued in the inter-war years."
The two-day event takes place at the Black Country Museum on Friday the 13th and Saturday the 14th of April, and will include a family-friendly 1918 centenary jamboree on the Friday evening. During this social evening, the museum will host a special evening event to give an authentic taste of what life would have been like in the West Midlands 100 years ago, including live music and the Black Country Museum's famous fish and chips.
The conference, entitled Voices of Women in the Great War and its Aftermath, seeks to explore the huge variety in women's experiences during World War 1 and the years that followed. It is supported by the University of Worcester, The Black Country Museum, the World War 1 Engagement Centre of the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and History West Midlands, and features keynote contributions from Elizabeth Crawford, an independent researcher; Dr Deborah Thom, of Robinson College, Cambridge; and Dr Sian Roberts, of the University of Birmingham.
For further information or to book for either day of the conference or the Jamboree visit the Voices of Women in the Great War page on the Eventbrite website www.eventbrite.co.uk
Picture: Worcester Munitions workers - credit Worcester Berrow's Journal