What Was The Impact Of Ww2 On African American Women

Women had a huge role in the World War II that so many do not recognize. Women were involved in many different jobs that allowed them to step out of the ordinary norm as the “typical housewife”, and dive into fierce hardworking jobs that until then only a man could do. Women jumped into the factories and many different roles that contributed to World War II, because the need for more American workers was crucial.

One way that women helped out in the war was that they went directly to the source--by dressing up as men and going to fight in the front lines, women (e.g.

For many African Americans, the war offered an opportunity to get out of the cycle of crushing rural poverty. Black joined the military in large numbers, escaping a decade of Depression and tenant farming in the South and Midwest. Yet, like the rest of America in the 1940s, the armed forces were segregated. The Army accepted black enlistees but created separate black infantry regiments and assigned white commanders to them. Of the more than 2.5 million African Americans who registered for the draft in WWII, about 900,000 served in the Army. But about only 50,000 African Americans were allowed to serve in combat.

worked in factories expanding industrial output, and helped raise money in the community. The women are what helped keep the country running. When women filled jobs that were traditionally men’s, this aided the country as a whole because while men fought in the war, women were able to keep the country moving. Women not only worked in factories and offices, but working in the community played an immense role in helping the soldiers fighting. Women raised money for the war, collected blood, rolled bandages, aided in civil defense, tended Victory Gardens, and hosted troops. Some women still worked at home centering their work around what the soldiers needed. They recycled aluminum foil and other materials that were scarce, they raised children as usual, and mourned for the soldier that had died. Women were assisting the troops with all that they could in order to make life easier for them.

War II. About 70% of women who served in military WWII held traditionally female jobs. After the men had

It should be noted that approximately 350,000 women did join the armed forces. These women worked as nurses, repairwomen for airplanes, and even drove supply trucks. Although most women would get involved by joining the workforce. There was a 60% increase of women in the workforce, and they made up 33% of that workforce. Not surprisingly there was a lot of married women who were apart

Before World War II, the prevailing view of a woman's role was that of wife and mother. Many occupations were reserved for men and some states barred married women from holding jobs. During the war women were needed to fill traditional jobs and roles that were for men. Women joined the nurse corps an armed forces so that more men could be sent to fight in the war. Women were a significant part of the labor force while the war was going on. The women back at home raised money for bonds. They promised that the consumer products would promote the enlistment in the military and volunteerism at home. President Franklin Roosevelt’s signing of Executive Order 8802 in 1941 banned race discrimination in defense industries and civil service jobs. It was rarely enforced, however, and mostly ignored by employers until they were forced to hire blacks by exhaustion of the white labor force. War industries often filled their most dangerous positions with black employees, frequently on night shifts and in janitorial

Besides fighting and healing, women boosted morale and cared for the male soldiers. However, young women were often outspoken by older ones, and were prone to sexual harassment during the war, and even at home after the war ended. Veterans who held dangerous jobs during the war were still regarded as "donut dollies" by other men. Even though female soldiers were ignored and disregarded most of the time, they had a significant impact in the war.

about 350,000 women worked in newly formed female army positions, such as women pilots, or WASPs, and women marine corps. Men were hesitant to let the women help out, but as stated by womensmemorial.org, “Commanders who had once stated that they would except women ‘over my dead body’ soon welcomed them and asked for more” (World War II:Women and the War). What this shows is that men were not accepting of the women, but once they realized what great workers they were, they were happy to hire them for uniformed positions. Women took jobs as cooks, nurses, factory workers, and mechanics, all of which were necessary for America to win the war. They didn’t need to draft as many men due to the increase in

Women were treated unequally during WW2. Even though women played important roles during WW2, they were discriminated against. When all of the men were required to join the military, the government encouraged women to occupy the factory jobs that were held by men. Women earned £2.15 per week. Even though women did the same jobs as men, they still earned less money. African American women didn’t get jobs because they faced racism, discrimination, poor pay, and were assigned to the worst jobs. The factory owners tried to avoid African American women from working beside white women. African American women experienced discrimination in the military during the war. African American women were only allowed to serve in black units. Even though African

“Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph, so help us God.”(Bowen). World War II was a start to a new beginning of what America has become from the impact of the war. Chaos across countries brought hope to America, in the sense that the people of America are coming together in a situation of multiple countries fighting. World War Two brought many positive impacts to the lives of women, the economy, and the lives of African Americans.

For the extensive number of working class women, it was nothing new- these women had unceasingly gone to their jobs. Women in all different standings in society helped the country's case for the war. They did jobs such as heavy coaling, portering or working in fields.

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

This was the start of major social change. Before the war, women had been content to stay at home to bring up the family and do domestic work. It was considered unbecoming for a woman to work. During the war it was considered unpatriotic not to.

Before the war, most women would be working in factories and as housewives. After the war broke out, most of them were recruited or sent to provide aid and service for their country. They worked in the battlefields and served as veterans. Women also proved that they could do men’s work and that they could do it well. When the war ended, many of them remained in active employment in the workplace(Legacies of WWII).