On the next page are the words of a very famous song, which was sung by factory girls in WW2. It's generally forgotten now, but I still think it has resonance.
Before the war, domestic service was the largest occupational sector for women. There were some 1,300,000. The roles ranged from "Live-in Parlour Maid", with half a day a fortnight and no gentleman callers, to casual dailies, paid at 2/6d a morning.
In March 1941, Ernest Bevin announced women's mobilization. By winter, all single women of 21 and 22 were called up for military service. The age ranges were to be expanded. Male mobilization was expanded to take in men of 18½–50. This would remove many men from the civilian employment pool.
These young men were to be replaced by women. All women up to 40 years of age, both married and single, had to register for service in the police, fire service, hospitals and other essential services.
Many women who wanted to work close to where they lived worked in local factories. During training, they received £1.13.0d.
Their lives changed. The lonely servitude of domestic labour was replaced by the social excitement of the pub and dance hall. Married women were released from scraping with life on the husband's pay. In addition, many factories had canteens and creches.
After the war, very few women went back to domestic service. It disappeared as a feature of life in England! This was a good revolution.
FACTORY SONG
I'm the girl who makes the thing
That drills the hole to holds the thing
That drives the rod that turns the knob
That works the thingummybob
It's a ticklish sort of job
Making a thing for the thingummybob
Especially when you don't know what it's for.
But it's the girl who makes the thing
That drills the hole to hold the thing
That feeds the oil that oils the ring
That works the thingummyjig
Who's going to win the war!
