4 They were employed in various sectors of the employment force ranging from manual work to office work, many of the work was unfamiliar to women and it was dangerous, challenging and physically demanding. This demonstrated their willingness to help and their flexibility by taking over the various workforces. Traditional historian Arthur Marwick claims the war was the main reason for women gaining the vote, he states "The war brought a new confidence to women, removed apathy and silenced the female anti-suffragists. Asquith was only the most prominent of the converts among men. Undoubtedly, the replacement of militant suffragette activity by frantic patriotic endeavour played its part well".5 There is sufficient evidence to suggest the war had helped women gain the vote in 1918 as public opinion had dramatically changed and acknowledged women for their hard work. Cartoons in Newspapers and posters, such as those by Septimus Scott, advertised that women were doing their bit.6 This is an example of improved attitudes towards women during the war. Asquith himself gave a speech in parliament, 1917 "How could we have carried on the war without them. I feel it impossible to withhold from women the power and the right of making their voices heard"7 providing evidence that the government had no excuse not to include women as equal members of society. Prior to the war Asquith was against votes for women, however he was replaced by David Lloyd George who was prepared to accept change more than the former Ministers. Lloyd George was additionally brought into the cabinet supporters of votes for women, including Balfour, Bonar Law and Lord Robert Cecil. The coalition government supported co-operation and eliminated divisions concerning the parties.8 There was now more chance of reform with a new head of government in power. Martin Pugh argues that the coalition under Lloyd George was beneficial to the suffrage movement.
