Role of Women in Wwii

One of the most important roles that women played, were the increasing large amount of female soldiers fighting in the war. These roles gave women the right to work and serve in armed forces. The jobs that women took part in during this time period made a huge difference in the war, and in turn, WW2 helped expand women’s

“During the war about half of American women worked outside of their homes,”( Hughes 2). The number of working women rose from fourteen point six million in nineteen forty one to nineteen point four million in nineteen forty four. “Women were not just motivated by wages or patriotism; but buy the feeling of independence that they gained from the work,” (Hughes 2). Without women laborers the US economy would have never been able to produce military hardware to be successful in the war. Even though women played a huge role in the work force during the World War II, they also played an even bigger role in the war itself. Women played several different roles in the actual war. “A few of women’s roles in the actual war of World War II would be army nurses, spies, pilots and entertainers,” (Scott3). Women served as army nurses during World War 11, there were than seven thousand active nurses on duty when the United States entered the war. “Women also served as pilots, on September tenth nineteen forty two, Nancy Harkness Love, with the support of th U.S. Air Transport Command, organized twenty five women pilots into the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (W.A.F.S),” (Scott3). Women pilots were used to serve non- combat flights, to free the men for combat flights. “Women spies of the World WarII , they were often successful and unsuspected since people suspected women that women’s properly roles were solely domestic,” (Scott3). Lastly

With a yet another big war in full swing, women had their own branches of the armed forces. American people, both men and women, signed up for the armed forces by hundreds of thousands. The first and largest division was the Women’s Army Corps (WAC). Approximately 140,000 women had a

In the years after the Second World War, people created uncountable numbers of historiographical research on various topics related to the war, such as military tactics in battles, individual groups of men during their time in service, and other such subjects. Not much surprise exists then, that women’s actions in World War II eventually would also gain interest and publication for the public, though it did not gain an undivided focus until the advent of women’s and social history grew momentum. Women, despite being half of the world’s population, doubtlessly had acted during the war years, although limited by social gender expectations of the period. As time passes from 1945, more interest in the lives of women and their effect on the war

With a yet another big war in full swing, women had their own branches of the armed forces. American people, both men and women, signed up for the armed forces by hundreds of thousands. The first and largest division was the Women’s Army Corps (WAC). Approximately 140,000 women had a

Women served an important role in WWII. They not only took the challenge and stepped up to take the places of the men off fighting in the war to work in factories, but they also fought side by side with those risking their lives and fighting for their country. They were needed everywhere during the war. There were an unbelievable amount of job opportunities for women during the war and many supported the brave acts of voluntary enlistment. “‘A woman’s place is in the home’ was an old adage, but it still held true at the start of World War II. Even though millions of women worked, home and family we considered the focus of their lives” says Brenda Ralf Lewis. Without the help of those women who were brave enough to

     “May 22, 1942, will surely go down on the record,” predicted the Christian Science Monitor. “It was the day that women joined up with the army...” It was obvious; the U.S. needed a larger military force. Thus women joined the army within organizations. From there came Oveta Culp Hobby, the director for the first American military organization of women. This organization was called the WAAC (Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps). Many people were impressed by the strength of the WAAC and it is said that within three months, the AAF was discussing the possibilities of obtaining more members of the WAAC (Weatherford, p.34).

Traditionally, military service had been a male occupation; however, due to necessity of personnel, women challenged preexisting social norms by joining the military during WWII, and changed the perception of women as a sex. In May 1942, shortly after the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Army formed the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (W.A.A.C.) to “train and prepare women to work in support positions both domestically and in the field.” While the W.A.A.C. opened notable access for women hoping to be part of the war effort, the term “auxiliary” held significance in its relegation of women to being “with” the Army, as opposed to “in” the Army. Still, the W.A.A.C allowed women the opportunity to deploy around the world and work in Army offices across the United States, where they filled a broad variety of responsibilities ranging from secretarial work to running the communications switchboards during Operation Overlord, known as D-Day.

In 1942 the Women’s Army Corps was introduced. These women worked in more than 200 non- combatant jobs stateside and also every part of the war. They served not only as common nurses but also “within the ranks of the United States Army.” There was also the Women’s Army Corps introduced in 1942. This group of 1,100 women was asked to join and fly military aircraft, due to the shortage of pilots. Their job was to fly from factories to military bases and also different take off points around the country. Even though during their enlistment the WASP were supposed to become part of the military, after a couple years the program was cancelled. The last group the, Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service, was already established. After being absent for twenty-three years, they had to be reactivated because of WW2. While a large portion of these women did the job of secretarial and clerical they had other jobs they did. Thousands of WAVES performed duties in aviation, medical professions, communication, intelligence, science and technology. These military jobs and the other non-traditional jobs the women participated in made them almost like a ghost in their home front.

Women served in countless ways beyond the home, filling military duties once held by men. According to the

It was December 7, 1941, when an unexpected attack on Pearl Harbor had decisively altered the United States involvement in WWII. The massive deployment of troops, support, and resources necessary to carry out operations within the war had greatly changed the foundation of America. It was a time for all Americans to stand up and contribute to the war effort, including our women and children. Women began working in unorthodox positions, from the common laborers and mechanics to the uncommon war support pilot. The Woman Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) were America’s first female aviators to fly in direct support of military operations during the war. The development and implementation of the WASP’s would prove to have directly influenced the war

More than 20,000 women served in the armed forces during World War I. Unfortunately, women were not given rank or privileges although they wore the same military uniform. This proved they were still not considered equal as men. However, their service in the military and how the women took care of the home and worked while their husbands were at war was noteworthy towards women’s cause for equality.

Women in war is no unusual thing, not anymore. In fact, recently a vote was held to determine whether or not women could be drafted, and while it was not passed, that has never stopped the determinedly patriotic from offering their services in war… whether their higher-ups realize their gender or not.

War is inevitable because of opposing views and conflicting opinions. During these hard times, women, although rarely recognized, played a big part in the success of our country. They made their mark during World War Two when they took over the jobs of men and proved they are just as efficient in the workplace. There has been a dramatic change since then. Women have found their identity through these hardships; which in return, has set the pace for the years to come and narrowed the gap of the social norm of women in the work place.

In 1782, America introduced the first female soldier to serve in an American military unit. Women have played a vital and important role since then when it comes to the military. During the World Wars, the importance of female soldiers was ever so important. While the men were at war, they filled in numerous jobs that were left vacant by the men overseas fighting to help keep the economy and America running smooth. Although women have proven their worth to the United States Military, there still is a place that their presence is not, and should never be needed. That place is on the front lines where all the action takes place during the war.