This work investigates how the mobilization of women into the industrial workforce during the First World War fundamentally altered the social and economic landscape of Great Britain. Gail Braybon, a noted historian of gender and labor, utilizes primary source documents, government records, and personal accounts to analyze the transition of women into roles previously reserved for men. The text argues that while the war provided a catalyst for change, the long-term impact on gender roles was more complex and constrained than contemporary narratives often suggest.

Historians frequently cite this text as a foundational study for understanding the intersection of gender and labor during the early twentieth century. Experts note that the book provides a balanced, evidence-based critique of the myth that the war brought immediate and permanent equality for women in the workplace.