Gender Roles And Social Issues In The Post-WWII Era

On September 3rd 1939 World War II started in Europe. During World War II, more than 16 million American men served in the military. While this large portion of the population was overseas fighting for the United States, women had to do many of the jobs in America normally held by men. Women were considered vital assets to the war effort, and the American government made sure to use their skills and labor in many different areas to win the war. Women contributed to the successful war effort by working society, documenting the war effort, and supporting the soldiers.

The Great Depression devastated the United States, and remains the worst depression ever experienced by the nation. During the “Roaring Twenties” when the economy was thriving in the United States, women took the opportunity to improve their social statuses through enlightenment, but as this period came to an end women’s social roles began to change again. This investigation will cover white women’s roles in the early 1920’s, and during the Great Depression at the height of unemployment. This investigation should reveal the extent of change in women’s roles during the hardest times the nation experienced. To fully investigate this topic, information from the book Flappers and the New American Woman by Catherine Gourley and information from the article Fifty Years of Change: Societal Attitude and Women’s Fashions, 1900-1950 by Ann Beth Presley.

Before World War II, women were expected to get married, raise kids, do housework, and obey their husbands. This all changed when World War II came around. The men were busy at war, so someone had to take over their jobs. The government considered having children across the country fill in, but society chose the women to do it instead. The government depicted work only as a necessity, only temporarily, not as a way to change a women’s rights or freedom.

Prior to World War II, many women were unemployed, due to the Great Depression which had started a decade before. With men always getting preference for jobs, there were very few jobs left for women. Consequently, not only were many occupations were reserved for men, but men were also paid wages up to five times higher for the same task as women. Some states also barred married women from holding jobs. However during World War II, America produced at an efficiency which was higher than ever. This meant that the women had an increasing number of jobs. Jobs in the public sector opened up. Since 1939, women progressively changed the idea of patriarchy and the cliché thinking of an average woman in the United States to be a wife and mother.

The classic film Gold Diggers Of 1933 is based in the era of the Great Depression, the aftermath of World War I which lasted from 1929 to 1939 thus the result to World War II. The Great Depression occurred during the time when films were evolving and becoming hits, but made it hard for film producers and companies since money was tight, unless you were rich and born into wealth like Brad Roberts in the film, who could easily just loan the money to the film makers. The time period and film go hand in hand as it relates to the time where life was tough in America and money wasn’t a easy thing to have access at all times. Clearly the film Gold Diggers Of 1933 indicates the time period of American life and The Great Depression

Before World War 2 commenced, women 's roles in Australia were extremely different to now. The Australian government believed that women were not needed to perform in any sort of military service, however, once the war began it was thought otherwise (Ergo.slv.vic.gov.au, 2015). The roles of women changed significantly during this time, specifically around the 1940 's. The social, political, and economic rights for Australian women were all major changes made during this period of time (Awm.gov.au, 2015). This essay focuses on the role of women before and after these changes occurred, also the affect this made to society.

Throughout history women have been burdened to be nothing more than domestic individuals. Their roles were to fulfill their household duties as wives and mothers. Many restrictions applied to their womanhood and not being able to work was one of them. However, the roles of women changed during World War II. As men were being recruited to fight in the war the openings for jobs were in high demand. During this time many women began to commence in the workforce altering the role of women, particularly those of the Mexican-American communities. Minority groups were often discriminated especially Mexican- Americans, not only were they discriminated but were also seen as criminals and were a temporary implement during the war. Mexican- Americans had to overcome obstacles that were put in their way and fight for what they deserved.

Blee, Kathleen M., and Ann R. Tickamyer. "Racial Diffences in Men's Attitudes about Women's Gender Roles." ProQuest Research Library [ProQuest]. Springer Science & Business Media, July 2010. Web. 17 May 2016.

When the First World War began in 1914, there was much discussion regarding the proper gender roles for British men and women. For men, the course of action seemed clear that they should enlist and fight. Yet, many men struggled under the pressure of warfare. For women, it was unclear how they should be involved in the war effort. Many men wanted the women to keep their traditional gender roles of taking care of the household. However, the lack of male workers on the home front required women to take on different work roles. The women received a great deal of praise and positive attention for their work as nurses, munitions workers, and military auxiliaries. However, men were critical

During the post-war period women were getting more opportunities and freedoms within society, while at the same time getting more limitations. Using one’s maternal instinct was a concept that was heavily stressed during this period and made a big impact on their home life and work life. The Cold War was a time where women had a lot of responsibilities to both their family but also society. They were the caretakers and had an incredible amount of work to do in preparation of nuclear warfare. Women had two main roles during the Cold War, to be a homemaker and to work with civil defence.

Life was immensely different for Americans after the war started. Firstly, women’s lives were noticeably impacted. A remarkable number of women went to work and participated in volunteerism, as six million joined the workforce and three million served as Red Cross volunteers. “Rosie the Riveter” adapted to be a catch phrase representing women in the workforce as a result of this. Additionally, Japanese Americans’ lives were changed enormously, specifically after the attack on Pearl Harbor. All of the Japanese Americans, even born in the United States and without a charge of crime, were sent to Japanese Internment Camps. Furthermore, the draft/Selective Service Act altered men’s lives greatly. The draft separated families, some forever. Lastly,

Females, specifically female spies, were given a new role in society that would earn them the success to revolutionize the gender roles of the world. The identity of a woman changed drastically as a result of growing political and diplomatic tensions in many countries throughout World War II. In the beginning, most women were content with fulfilling the suburban housewife role. Then, partially due to their necessity, and partially do to society’s role of evolution, women became the key to a functioning society. No longer were women seen as the weak link in society; they finally had a purpose other than being a housewife. Without hesitation, the wives and mothers of America rose up and offered their services to anywhere that would accept, including espionage.

Gender roles became so complex in the twentieth century due how society has changed what men and women should be like. Men take being strong and independent as a God given right to them, while females on the other hand have had to work their way up in order to be titled independently strong. From growing up to early adulthood I faced the conflict of constantly worrying about how society wants me shape myself as a dependent and self-confident which was the complete opposite of me.

After getting an education as well as knowing there worth in society women knew there were more than just a wife and mother. During WWII women demonstrated their power to think in a world without men as they were off fighting the war. Women began to understand that they had more to offer the world other than housekeeping and raising children. In addition, many women wanted to continue working after the war as they had held jobs with responsibilities as well as earning wages. Furthermore, women were the ones making financial decisions as well as working in positions with higher responsibilities. Many women as well as minorities were simply casted a side to make room for the returning solders. This created a silent discontent among women

In Jamaica Kincaid’s story, Girl, a mother is talking to her daughter about all the proper things she must do to be considered a good girl to her family and to the public, and when she grows up, a proper lady. She must follow the rules that are given to her by her own mother and by society. The mother also teaches the daughter how to act when things don’t go her way. She is told that along with being a proper lady, she must also be able to get what she wants and be independent. This story was written in the late 1970’s and gender roles, for women, back then were not being “followed” because women wanted equal opportunities (Women In the Workforce). “Gender stereotypes are beliefs regarding the traits and behavioral characteristics given to individuals on the basis of their gender” (Deuhr). This essay will discuss the gender roles that were given to women in the story, during the late 70’s, and in today’s society.