Women became much more free and independent than they had been before the war. This was especially true for young unmarried women. They had money from their wages.

Work often meant that they were away from the supervision of their families for long periods of time, especially if they were posted away from home. They also mixed with their friends, British troops and with servicemen from the USA and the British Empire forces. Many women married American servicemen and became "GI Brides."

The practical demands of wartime changed social customs. People enjoyed far greater social freedom than before, with more opportunities to meet members of the opposite sex, and a sense that normal rules did not apply in such dangerous times. "Live for today you might not be here tomorrow" was a phrase often heard.

The drawback to such new opportunities was the increase in numbers illegitimate children and of people with venereal disease. Being, or having an illegitimate child were socially unacceptable then, but even so, there was a huge increase in the number of children born to single mothers during the war.