The Order of the White Feather was founded in Britain in August 1914 as part of a strategy to encourage women to pressure their family and friends into enlisting. White feathers were given to young, fit men who did not volunteer for service, implying they were cowards. Some criticised the practice arguing that “idiotic young women were using white feathers to get rid of boyfriends of whom they were tired.”
Badges were given to soldiers who had been discharged due to age, illness or wounds and to men who tried to enlist but were rejected, and those in essential work to ensure that they were not accused of cowardice.
How do you think men might have felt about receiving a white feather?
Do you think the strategy would have been successful? Why or why not?
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