Domestic impact of war: society and culture

Pre-WWI Britain was a hierarchical society dominated by the aristocracy and landed gentry. Post-WWI, these social structures were significantly changed.
The needs of the war created new job opportunities, particularly for women and the lower classes. This led to increased social mobility and a change in class dynamics.
The welfare reforms of the late 19th and early 20th century had already started changing society but these were accelerated by the war. The state became more involved in offering support to its citizens, leading to the foundation of the welfare state.

Before WWI, women were mostly confined to domestic roles or unskilled labour. However, with many men away fighting, women began to take on traditionally male jobs, including factory work, nursing, and farm work.
The war also improved public opinion on women’s capabilities and led to the suffrage movement gaining more momentum. The Representation of the People Act 1918 gave some women over 30 the right to vote.
Post-war, women were expected to return to their traditional roles, however the landscape had changed significantly and women continued to push for greater equality in subsequent decades.

Although Britain came out as a victor in WWI, its economy was heavily impacted by the costs of war resulting in an increase in unemployment and poverty.
Returning soldiers expected jobs, but many were left unemployed. This led to a period of extreme social unrest and frequent strikes showing the dissatisfaction among the workforce.
The government introduced the Dole system of unemployment benefit to offset the struggles of workers, which was later expanded into the welfare state.

WWI had a significant impact on British culture with the trauma of war often reflected in the literature, music, and art of the time.
The period saw the emergence of war poets like Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon whose works started the trend of war poetry.
Additionally, the joy and relief at the end of the war led to the Roaring Twenties, a period of cultural renaissance and social change.