Life at Home during World War I and World War II Introduction During World War I and World War II life back home changed excessively. Families were experiencing drastic changes as the absence of men affected not only families but the economy as well. When the soldiers went to fight in World War 1 and World War 2, women and children had to replace men in the workforce. There was an increase in those affected by the trauma of the wars, and the birth-rate had dropped during this time. Family Families were affected by the trauma and exposure of the wars, causing mental illnesses such as depression. Young children had been exposed to the trauma of the wars. A great deal of pressure was put on the older children because they had to take care of the household and their younger siblings. Injuries and mental health left soldiers unemployed, which led to financial difficulty to provide for the children, this forced families to change their standard of living in some cases (“Impact on soldiers and their families”). Nonetheless, children were also able to help during the wars through services such as knitting sweaters and making bandages for soldiers overseas. Sufficiently the topic of the wars was also beginning to appear in curricular in early 1914. Patriotic teachers encouraged students to help convince adult males or older brothers to enlist in the wars. Countless children remember the wars as an economic hardship, grinding tragedy and unbearable grief (“The Children’s War”).
A few roles of women prior to the World War I consisted of cooking, cleaning, and caring for the children. These were the basic fundamental jobs that women were expected of women to do,” (Campbell 1) .During this time men were the sole base of the household income, and the head
America’s involvement in World War I not only impacted the war front but also the people left on the home front. When America entered World War I in 1917 the government enforced many measures on its citizens, many of which violated constitutional rights. The biggest measure inflicted on the American population was censorship. The formation of the Committee on Public Information (CPI) and the passing of the Espionage Act and Sedition Amendment stole American’s freedom of speech, created an anti-German sentiment, and led to deportation during the post-war Red Scare.
The entry of the United States into the Second World War dramatically altered the traditional role of the family in American society. First and foremost, the economic conditions, which were dramatically improving because of the war, became suitable for a large number of couples to get married. But the war also changed the interaction between members of the family and traditional parental roles. Housing shortages led to discrimination against some families, juvenile delinquency rose, but the increase in economic resources led to improved health and increased savings. Overall the war affect on the American family was both positive and negative and altered it ways that were unforeseen.
World War ǁ was a global military event, the most colossal conflict in history lasting from 1939-1945, it involved most of the worlds nations including Great Britain. WWII had far-reaching implications for most of the world. The following essay will demonstrate the changes the UK family has undergone since World War ǁ, the following essay will also throw light upon the changes in family types, economic activities of women , power distribution, laws and sexuality with respect to disciplines of sociology, economics, history and politics.
The wartime jobs produced lasting careers and life-style changes for women. Some of the jobs they did were telephone operators, factory workers, seamstresses, and physicians. Most of the women that were hired for these jobs were young and unmarried because they had fewer obligations to attend. This meant, they could work long hours with little pay since they did not have a family to provide for. It was
Before World War I and World War II, women at home had the roles of maintaining duties for their family and children, such as cleaning, caring for the house, and cooking for the family. They were more likely judged by their exquisiteness rather than their ability. Just before World War I began, women were beginning to break away from the traditional roles they had played at home. Throughout both World Wars, women in the United States faced similar challenges, however, during the Second World War; women were trusted with much more freedom and responsibility than they had in the First World War.
(Just as a side note, I had pictures of the posters in the original paper but couldn 't transfer them to here. The first link in the bibliography has tons of WW1 propaganda posters you can use.)
Gender and health are most likely the most noticeable social changes since the Second World War. Since the Second World War women role in society has changed massively. Women are seen more equally now in most societies and private sphere of their families. An example of this is more woman now carry on in full-time work after marriage and having children, also they are taking more of an outstanding role within their communities and public life. Even though these changes have been made there is evidence to show that there are still inequalities still exist between men
During the 1940's wartime production required more factory workers. With the majority of males being enlisted into the military and the work force depleted, minorities and women found many opportunities during the war. "For most, involvement became an adventure, a way that every citizen could feel he or she was making an important contribution to the war effort"(Duis, 20). While most women were married, they worked to keep themselves busy while the males were off at war. "Prior to the war only about one fourth of women worked outside of the home" (Bard, 173). "By 1945, women made up 36% of the nation's total workforce" (Schultz). After the war, women were advised to leave work and continue their more traditional role of wife and mother. African Americans improved their economical standing by accepting war industry positions and through their migration from the south; some became professionals and skilled workers, yet still facing harsh discrimination. There was a high commitment of immigrant workers to the war effort that participated heavily in war bond and scrap metal collection drives. Like African Americans, these immigrants were also subjected to racial prejudice. But overall, "America enjoyed full employment and a higher standard of living"
Women's participation during World War II has had significant results throughout history. It has lead to economic advancement for them specifically after the post war Baby Boom period. The research is filling practical information about the advanced affects woman had on their family income during this time. To get my results I analyzed ten sources and read through each one and found important quotes and details in each. As a result of this I learned that after World War II this was the beginning where woman had a large impact on the economics in their households. One major causes of the U.S. postwar baby boom was the increased demand for female labor during World War II. The effect of the war on female employment was not only large, but also
They had to work what was called the “double shift”. During the day they worked helping the war and at night they took care of cleaning the house, doing laundry, and other house work. Because of this many mothers were criticized and blamed by others for the rise in child delinquency. The mothers were doing everything they could and still were called bad mothers (Document G). After World War II ended, all the opportunities for women went away because the men returned from war. They had to quit their jobs and return to their house duties so that the men could be employed again. As Myron A. Marty stated in Daily life in the United states, “women assumed roles that were just as restricted as before” (Document I). Women, after a couple months of freedom, went back to how they lived before the war. Women had no right, no say, no freedom. They were just treated like objects. Women worked hard to help and support but were never
World war 1 had many ways that impacted American society one way ww1 impacted the american society was for women.Since the millions of men fathers/husbands had to leave their homes to go to war women also had to leave their homes
World War I began in 1914 but America remained neutral until its entrance into the war in 1917. The U-boats sinking of the British liner Lusitania in 1915, the sinking of five American ships in 1917, and the “Zimmerman telegram” sent from Germany to Mexico led up to America’s declaration of war. America’s involvement in World War I not only impacted the war front but also the home front.
During WWII, the two-breadwinner vision of the family suffered further setbacks. As May puts it, women entered war production, but they did not give up on reproduction..Economic hardship was no longer a barrier to marriage, as it had been in the 1930s, and dependents' allowances eased the burdens of families if the breadwinners were drafted. But perhaps most important was the desire to solidify relationships and establish connections to the future when war made life so uncertain. (May p.59-60) While the culture venerated female workers, it also promoted a return to domesticity after the war, a return encouraged by the gender bias of the GI Bill. Meanwhile, men were encouraged through pin-ups and propaganda to believe they were fighting for their own slice of the domestic, consumerist good life.
During WW2 the presence of men at home was to a bare minimum. The impact this had on women was felt throughout the nation. How women would be looked at would be changed forever. They had to uphold various positions that were usually held by men and reevaluate their roles as homemakers. Their lives at home had changed; they were no longer the primary care giver. They also joined different parts of the military. Due to men being away at war during WW2 women were forced to participate in the workforce, which would change their view of their position in society.