During WWI and WWII women took on jobs that were once exclusively taken by men.

In the 1960s the womens liberation movement began. It was a worldwide movement whose members included mainly women but some men as well. Because of this movement womens rights have increased greatly since the end of WWII. Before the outbreak of World War One in 1914 a woman's role in the workplace was quite restricted, jobs for women consisted mainly of domestic labor, nursing, teaching, and agriculture if their family owned a small holding. (http://jimmythejock.hubpages.com/hub/World-War-1-Women-At-War). During WWI with most of the male workforce away at war the roles of factory workers and logistical officers in the army, air force and navy and nurses behind the front lines. Some women were also recruited as stretcher bearers. After WWI many women returned home and continued their previous jobs. During WWII women played a more direct role in warfare especially in The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, also know as the USSR, women were fighting alongside men without discrimination and women were even permitted to join the secret police. Many soviet women were responsible for the cover up of 22000 polish officers in 1940. Women also worked the same jobs they had during WWI mainly industrial, logistical or nursing. The Women's Liberation Movement was a political movement, born in the 1960s from Second-Wave Feminism. ( http://www.redstockings.org/) It was part of the far larger Civil Rights Movement. Its members compromised of mainly women but there were men as registered members. Its objectives included: equality for all women, equal pay to men f or working the same job and the right to equal work opportunities. The Womens Liberation Movements demands were finally met in 1979 when Australia passed multiple laws increasing womens rights and banning discrimination because of marital status or whether or not they had children. It also gave women the choice of birth control such as abortion as an alternative to having children.

The Womens Liberation Movement used multiple ways of getting their message across. American women hosted massive marches compromising of 20000 plus women all chanting and shouting. Australian women rebelled quieter than those in America holding rallies normally only 1500-2000 members strong and holding forums and private discussions they did however hold huge protests in the major capitol cities of Australia. They also worked in conjunction with the aboriginal rights movement assisting each other with protests and rallies especially aboriginal women. One of the main reasons the Womens Liberation Movement was so successful was that men started helping around the house looking after the children while the women were away at rallies or protests. Men were permitted to march in the rallies and protests but as with war veterans descendants had to march at the rear of the parades. They also used the new styles of music to get their message across with Pop music and Rock and Roll music being the main styles. There were many reasons women wanted rights. Through out history women have been oppressed and treated as second class citizens. Cleopatra even dressed as a man for the most of her life so that she could retain her position as pharaoh. Women of the 1960s and 70s wanted to finally end the oppression of women and break the stereotype of a women cleaning, cooking and producing and looking after children. They wanted men to share an equal role in the raising of a baby even asking for paid maternity leave for men as well as women this however was one of the few demands not met by the Australian Government. The main reason women protested however was that they were tired of being treated as inferior to men in every way and wanted a fair go. In 1979 the Womens Liberation Movement got almost all of their demands met resulting in laws prohibiting sexual discrimination and promising women equal pay to men in every job permitting they do the same amount of work. The laws also prohibited discrimination against women due to their marital status and whether or not they had children. These laws resulted in many women pursuing careers and less women having children and being housewives. The passing of the laws resulted in massive celebration all through out Australia joined by aboriginals who also gained many rights including being recognised as citizens. In conclusion the rights of women have changed greatly after the end of World War 2 due to Women rising up and being heard through giant rallies and protests, constant pressure on the government and proving through themselves that women are just as good as men. However after all this time women still are getting paid 15-17% less then men for the same jobs and the latest percentage of women on ASX 200 boards is 13%.