How has Barker presented the position of women during war time? Compare with one poem. (A01, A02, A03, A04)

In Regeneration by Pat Barker, Barker explores the sexual attitudes of men towards women during war time particularly those of the soldiers of war. Barker also examines the change in position of women during war time where there is an increased dependency on women to make the weapons for the war effort. Similar to this in Women and Munitions Making by Mary Collins, Collins also explores the changing roles of women in the workplace and the effect on the women of the work they are now doing.

Barker highlights the attitudes of soldiers towards women through her use of Prior and Sarah Lumb, particularly on their first encounter 'he would have preferred to have not even known her name. Just flesh against flesh.' this shows the inferiority of women at this time as Prior is objectifying Sarah and wants only to have sex with her without any form of emotional commitment such as getting to know her first. Barker also uses Prior here to emphasise that women do not meet the expectation of men to just have sex with them showing that women still value their morality. This is shown where Sarah 'shoved him hard off the tombstone'. Although initially Sarah was going along with Priors sexual advances this 'shoving' action of Prior off her suggests that she does have moral qualities as she doesn't let their relationship go any further at this point. Barker may be highlighting by this that although women have become less chaste during war time they still value their position within society and will not risk it by succumbing to the wills of men.
At the time of writing Regeneration however Pat Barker may have been influenced in this section in particular by the position of women at that time in 1990s as the position of women had advanced much further and the values placed on women by society particularly those concerning chastity had lessened. This compared to those of the 1910s may have influenced Barkers decision to have Sarah and Prior have such a sexual relationship on their first meeting.

Barker also explores the change of position of women through their roles in work as more career options are opened to them. This is shown through 'yellow tinge to their skin' this feature of munitions workers highlights the physical effect of the war on women who work 'on the home front' by making explosives, etc to go to the war effort. A highly dangerous job this led to women taking on a more masculine role than they would have previously due to the lack of men. This is further shown by Barker with 'she held out her hand to him in a direct, almost boyish way' this could represent the changing position of women as the lack of men meant women had to take up the role of keeping the home whilst men where away at war.
The use of munitions workers to highlight the position of women during war time is also used by Collins in Women at Munition Making the form of the poem is structured in two sections before and during the war, this highlights the immediate change in the position of women rather than a gradual one, 'but now' in particular highlights the sudden change of tone from the soft 's' sounds of 'smooth' and 'soothingly' to a more sharp 'coarsened'. The use of 'coarsened' highlights here how not only do women's position change during war time but also the effect of their changing role on their physical health, their hands in the factories, and their mental state, as they hardened mentally by the masculine work they take on in the war. This view by Collins appears negative to the change of position of women as the tone of the section were the women's position has arguably improved, as they earn more money and are given the freedom to work, suggesting she favoured the