The Roles of Women before World War II

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 millions of women who entered the workforce during the war were mostly married women. They broke away from the traditional image of housewives. Women were an essential part of the industry during the war; they took over the jobs of men. 10 months after Pearl Harbor, women started working in factories that manufactured gunpowder, parachutes, tanks, and supplies for the war. Even African American women gained job opportunities, but they were hired as a last resort by employers (Hartmann 60). From 1940-1945, the number of female workers increased by 50% from 12 million to 18 million (Rosie the Riveter). Women in the work force suffered from unfair wages and sexual harassment. Women were not allowed to compete for most jobs, and are often paid less even with the same work (Evans 217).

Women in World War II started replacing men in traditional roles, which proved to society that women were capable of work reserved for men. Due to labour shortages and the need for men to fight overseas, the government was forced to allow women to take a more active role. Women had a broad range of duties and responsibilities, most women were trained in many of the home-front tasks, subsequently, that more service men could be freed to join the overseas forces, this created new employment opportunities for women (Carrodus et al, 2012, p. 113). Tens of thousands of women joined the Women 's Air Force, Naval and Army Services during World War II. (Big Black Dog Communications Pty Ltd, et al, 2009). As seen Appendix 2, women in the services were significant as they were beginning to perform all types of work, from intelligence officers to drivers, typists and cooks, to wireless telegraphists and aircraft ground staff. To go from being dependent on

Women's roles changed in World War II for the better. Whether they were in the military, in which they enrolled in large numbers for the first time in American history, manufacturing tanks, or even just making money to buy war bonds, the U.S. might be under Nazi or Japanese control today without them. The same goes for minorities in World War II. The African American Tuskegee Airmen shot down over 250 enemy planes, and African American leader A. Philip Randolph's demand to outlaw job discrimination, which was brought into action by Franklin D. Roosevelt, paid off in the war production. Native Americans used the Navajo language as code talkers, 13 Latinos won the Medal of Honor, and even Japanese Americans won glory on the battlefield.

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

Before 1939, women were looked at as weak, incompetent and incapable of doing a man’s job. However, when World War II broke out, women were called to maintain the jobs that the men once occupied and t became evident that America’s best chance for success in World War II would have to include the efforts of American females. Women played a key role during World War II in the U.S. More than six million women took wartime jobs in factories, three million volunteered with the Red Cross, and over 200,000 served in the military. Through these jobs women were able to show society that they were capable of doing bigger and better things. Women also realized that they enjoyed this taste of freedom and wanted to continue this lifestyle even after

When World War II rolled around men were not the only ones that were called to fight. Women too were enlisted with contributions to the cause. When there were no men left to work business owners began to recruit women. During World War II women proved to be vital in stepping up and taking over men’s jobs. Once the war was over most women were expected to go back to their place in society but there were some who were adamant about it. They had learned new and useful skills and enjoyed the independence working gave them. As men were being shipped out to fight in the battle fronts, women took over various jobs that were before endowed to men. The shortage of male laborers helped them take up jobs like switchboard operators,

Although women of minority and lower class always worked, World War II became a changing point for all women. Before World War II, women in America weren’t viewed as anything more than domesticated housewives. When men doubted their ability to lead, women took charge and took over the roles many men were unable to fulfill. As World War II progressed, they began to fill military positions such as building equipment in factories, nurse corps, and auxiliary services and non-military positions such as clerical, managerial, and factory jobs. I believe it was the beginning of a new era for Caucasian, African American, Native American, and Japanese women across the United States because despite some hostility, racism, and stereotyping, women were among the most important recipients of wartime modifications.

Women during the 1940s war era were willing to take risks. They had a desire to achieve to better themselves socially and professionally. Women had been in the workforce prior to WWII, many had worked for years and were either single, divorced, or married and in need of additional income to maintain their family. Not all women in the 1940s were stay at home house wives; many were teachers, nurses, textile workers, and clerical workers. American society was accustomed to women working that was not new or unusual, however, once America entered the war and women from all regions of America joined the labor force society took a jolt. No longer where the women on demand for the man of the house or in their lives, they had jobs, some would even say they had careers. Innovations and

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.

The role of women in war has varied significantly throughout British History. During world War 1 womens role was constricted as many worked in the industry of textiles , knitting and munitions. This said they played a pivotal role in the war effort as 23.8 million in britain were all working. Voluntary and paid positions were taken up as unfamiliar roles to women, Nevertherless this was recquired in order to sustain the living of many families. World War 1 illustrated the capability of women in wokring across a variety of fields. However the effort from women was arguably taken out of context. Despite the rise in pay , women still earned less then men. They held the responisibility of working as a generation of men went to fight. This covered munitions, police patrols and even nursing.Women worked in horendous conditions and accidents were far too frequent in factories. A TNT plant killed 73 people and also leading to the destruction of nearby homes. Furthermore the collective effort was extraordinary , the workers of one factory in Gloucestershire within the four years filled over 17 million shells(BBC world war 1).Opportunities in civil service increased by 1,751 %.

My senior project is about how World War II influence the role of women in the work place and sexism post World War II. I decided to select this topic because I wanted to learn more about how World War II influenced women into getting in the work place and the important of War World II to women’s role in changing in the United States. I want to learn in more detail about how American women played important roles during World War II, both at home and in uniform. How they had to not only give their effect, they had to give their sons, husbands, father and brothers to the war effect and some even gave their time, energy and their lives. With so many sacrifices that women made I want to learn more about how the United States government saw fit

What was the role of the woman before World War I? Under circumstances before the beginning of World War I, the defined duties of a woman would be to take care of the home. Taking care of the home would include being a wife, being a mother, cooking, and cleaning. Women were judged on their attractiveness, rather than what they could bring to the table. Women were seen as being able to do less than a man when it came to being in the workforce. Of course, secretarial jobs were typical for women, but industrial jobs were not typical occupations for a female. World War I changed the way that women perceived themselves, and gave them a new lease on life. The femininity of women really began to shine through as World War I progressed. They began engaging in activities that normally they would not engage in. Women began wearing things that normally they would not wear. They began to think things that normally they would not think. Women began taking control of their own lives, and changing their destinies. The video, “Flappers: The Birth of the 20th Century Woman”, had a lot to say about the change in woman with the start of World War I. The narrator of this video says:

World war 1 also known as “The Great War”. World war 1 is one of the most devastating events of the 20th century, it changes a lot of things, including the role of women in the modern society. Women’s role in the society drastically changes, due to world war 1. We will see the changes that happen to women, before and during the world war 1, that will lead us to the role of women in the modern society.

Women can do "men's" work, and do it well. This was proven during World War II, as the men left to serve in the military and various opportunities opened up for women Aside from being encouraged to take manufacturing jobs, women were also needed in the armed forces. Women felt proud of their chance to break apart from their traditional roles, and were eager to learn new skills. However, once the war was over, the men reclaimed their positions .Although some women accepted this, many resisted and believed it was necessary to continue working. This attitude along with other factors, such as beliefs of the post-war society, Cold War events, the civil rights movement, and new discoveries and advancements, empowered women to stand up for equality