‘Work in the Housewives’ Service, like that of a household, seems never to be done’: the ‘practical politics’ of the Women’s Voluntary Service in the Second World War

The Women’s Voluntary Service (WVS) was established in 1938, toencourage women into civil defence ahead of the anticipatedconflict. Once war began, it quickly expanded, with membersengaging in a wide range of duties. Historians have characterisedthe WVS as an organisation dominated by middle-class women,but, while leadership was typically middle-class, at local level,membership was often more diverse. This article draws on theinternal records of thirteen WVS Centres in the Black Country tosuggest that the organisation was arguably more inclusive of awider range of social classes than has previously beenconsidered. It argues that working-class women were able to takeon roles within the local public sphere through the very specific,localised and practical nature of the work the WVS undertook inthis area. As such, it argues that the organisation played animportant role in allowing women’s activism toflourish in themid-twentieth century.