A woman sign writer at Parsons Green during the Second World War – photograph

Description:

A woman signwriter works in London Transport’s Parsons Green building department during the Second World War. Women were needed in many areas of the company to take the place of men who had joined the armed forces.

Production Date:

1939 – 1945

ID no:

LTM_1998/36119

Maker:

Photographer : Topical Press; Commissioner : Colin Tait

Copyright:

Transport for London

The proportion of women in the workforce rose during the 20th century. In 1900 the British workforce included five million women, about a third of the total. By the end of the century it was over half – seven million women.There had also been a transformation in the sort of jobs undertaken by women. In 1900 most jobs were domestic service or other ‘semi-skilled’ activities. By the end of the century women had entered the professions…