It is difficult to remember any event in the history of mankind that did more for female emancipation than the First World War. When millions of men went to the front, millions of women had to master male professions in one way or another. The professions were followed by more practical men's clothing suitable for such work, then men's entertainment, men's habits and men's way of thinking. By the time the surviving soldiers returned home, their wives were already easily dealing with the previously exclusively male work, wore trousers and caps, did not mind going to the pub or playing football in the evening, and it seems … they liked it!
A series of postcards drawn by the German artist Arthur Thiele, the name of which can be translated as «Army at the front and army in the rear!» (Front- und Heimatsheer!), shows the surprise of the soldiers who came home on short leave. Perhaps, in addition to convincing the front-line soldiers that everything is all right at home, the drawings prepared men for a new way of life. However, it was still far from gender linguistics and queer theory.
