The War and the Gender divide: Examining Women’s Poetry of the First World War Era

Abstract

World War I poetry generally tends to take into consideration only the works of male writers such as Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen, male poets who had been in the line of duty themselves. However, what is largely ignored is the vast body of women’s writing of the era. This blind ignorance, even with the existence of published anthologies is due to the prevailing notion that war is largely a man’s business. Little existing documentation of women’s contribution in various serving units during the Great War also contributes to the ignorance. They served as nurses, drivers and a wide variety of other roles on the battle front. The women who remained at home showed immense courage in handling the situation. Some were involved in knitting, some in solving the food crisis. Others entered the munitions factories to serve the country. This paper aims to bring to light the crucial role that these women played during the Great War. This paper will examine how women battled sexism and the shibboleth of traditional gender roles to emerge as brave fighters on the battlefront and at home, at par with the men.