British women were conscripted to the war effort for the first time in 1941.Women's branches of the British forces were quickly reinstated. Women were also conscripted to civilian war work in factories, on the land and in civil defence - though they were rarely paid the same wage as men.

Civilians were targeted during this war which made the home front a dangerous as well as difficult place to be. Women bore the responsibility of feeding, clothing and keeping their families together.

Images of women were used for recruiting women to war work but were also used to warn of the dangers of spies and VD.

Women who opposed the war were treated with more understanding than during the First World War.

Click on the links below for classroom activities: