Women in Australia

Women in Australia have had to undergo severe hardships throughout the history of the nation. This harsh treatment began during the colonial era where women had little to no rights at all. It was a difficult time to be a woman as men had a stranglehold on women’s independence and controlled just about everything that pertained to women. They could not be allowed to think or reason for themselves. Many men believed that the role of women was confined to the kitchen and homestead in general where they were restricted to duties of taking care of their husbands and children. However, they could not be suppressed for long and during the 19th Century, their social status began to rise, and they began to be recognized during the latter part of the 1800s. Women were instrumental in the fight for independence and as the nation gained freedom, it was impossible to sideline them and say that they had not contributed to the struggle that Australia had faced. The following essay will look at the influence of women in Australia throughout the period of colonization to the First World War and the struggles that they faced during this time.
The British laid siege in Australia in 1788. This would mark the beginning of the efforts for the Aboriginals and women in particular. The conflict between Aboriginals and Europeans grew gradually. At first, the foreigners were tolerated and even occasionally welcomed, but it quickly became apparent that they had come to stay CITATION Ausnd p n.p l 1033 (Australian War Memorial n.

p). Competition for space and food increased and the natives felt that the foreigners had to go back. The life of Aboriginal women was particularly uncomfortable as they set out to find meaning in a world where many of their cultural ways and beliefs were challenged and always changing CITATION Aus16 p n.p l 1033 (Australian Government n.p). The British were brutal and exposed the natives to a different way of life. They did not care at all for the aboriginal women and continually raped and violated them. This sexual abuse and exploitation of the native women and girls brought with it venereal diseases in unimaginable proportions. The diseases caught on, and many of the natives died as a result CITATION Har03 p 151 l 1033 (Harris 151). They had no idea what they were in for when the Brits first arrived. Apart from the genital infections, life had also taken a drastic turn for the worse for women. After a life of contentment and settlement, they now had to share space they had known to be theirs all through their lives with foreigners. They were not particularly renowned for farming, but they considered every part of Australia as their own, and now they would have to share it. They were also involved in the actual fighting, and many lost their lives during battle. The onset of the British invasion brought with it an entirely different challenge from what they were used to. Taking care of their families who fought in the war and participating in the fight against British was a complicated balancing act, which many women struggled to execute. There was also need to reduce overcrowding in British prisons and thus arose the need to transport convicts to other parts of the world due to the impending American independence. Australia was selected, and as a result, the natives had to deal with the invasion of convicts who had committed offenses in their native land.
The British government also brought free settlers to Australia who would help make the land more habitable by growing food. The free settlers were given large tracts of land and a significant workforce which was mainly comprised of convicts. The transition from Britain to Australia would not be comfortable, and the settlers would need all the help they could get. About 20 percent of the prisoners that were brought to help with the transition were women. It was particularly challenging for them, and many had to attach themselves to other male convicts or officers. Things were worse before they got better for the female convicts as they were assigned to soldiers and most were forced into prostitution. About a fifth of the convicts was Irish and was brought on because of the history that the British government had with Ireland. Again, women were at the heart of everything that went on with the settlers and nothing came easy for them. They were forced into compromising positions and did things that they were not comfortable with.
Progress was slow but it inevitable. The late 1800s saw an upturn in fortunes for the women after years of hard work and perseverance. From 1895, Australian women who were British subjects were allowed to vote as long as they were 21 and over. It was a gradual change that swept through the landscape over several years beginning from 1895 in South Australia to Victoria in 1908. Things were not as easy for the native women who had to wait for a lot longer to be able to vote. It still seems like a mystery why people who were not natives of a land could be granted the right to vote regarding how land that is not their own should be run while the natives had to wait for over half a century more to be allowed to vote. By 1962, however, the Commonwealth Electoral Act granted indigenous Aboriginals the right to vote in federal elections. In 1912, the government began providing welfare payments for women who were pregnant while workingCITATION ONe09 p 172 l 1033 (O’Neill and Johns 172). Maternity leaves were also allowed.
By the time the First World War began, things had turned around, and women were expected to play a vital role in the war. Over 3000 nurses volunteered for service in the World War I. Their involvement was significant on so many levels. For starters, they allowed more men to join in the war and participate in the fight. Further, the sight of loved ones so close when in battle gave many of the men the desired courage to fight. They were a welcomed relief who were seen as a source of hope. Many worked in hospitals, aboard trains and even on ships and even in casualty clearing stations that were close to the front line. Although their roles were seen as behind the scenes, nursing was a critical role that presented the threat of death (Harris 16). Twenty-five of those who served as nurses died during the service. Women had come a long way and risen to unprecedented levels.
Women in Australia have faced a myriad of challenges. Native Aboriginals and those of British descent have faced different kinds of problems which they have courageously surmounted. It is their ability to move past the hurdles that were placed in front of them which contributed to making Australia what it is today. The roles that they took on helped men play an active part in World War I. It is fair to say that Australia would not be where it is without its women.
Works Cited
BIBLIOGRAPHY Australian Government. Women in colonial times. 6 March 2016. Website. 11 November 2016.
Australian War Memorial. Colonial Period, 1788-1901. n.d n.d n.d. Website. 11 November 2016.
Harris, J. One Blood: Two hundred years of Aboriginal encounter with Christianity. Sydney, 16 July 2003. document.
Harris, Kristy. “Girls in Grey: Surveying Australian Military Nurses in World War I.” History Compass (2013): 14-23. Document.
O’Neill, Marjorie and Robyn Johns. “The History of Welfare and Paid Maternity Leave in Australia.” BOOK OF PROCEEDINGS (2009): 172-196. Document.