Stephanie Acosta Prof. Kristen Cleary ENG201 Fall 2014 Women’s Roles During 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. Women during World War II became warriors. They overtook and played the men’s role in their household. Before their men went overseas, the norm was for them to get married at a young age. These women started volunteering in war-related organizations in order to support war efforts. When the men left to fight, their women became proficient at things they wouldn’t have dared to do before. The war made a lot of women stronger and opened lots of doors and opportunities. They would manage their finances, be excellent housekeepers, fix cars and do handyman work. In addition to serving in the military during World War II, women also provided their talents to documenting the war. Women became journalists, broadcasters, and photographers during the war to show the American people the conditions of the fighting men and the
When the work opportunities began to rise for all American women during the war time, the African-American women emerged to at the fore front of the civil rights movements to demand the rights of citizenship for themselves. The World War II affected millions of people and brings a revolution in the work force and created different opportunities for women to work during the war time. Women get the opportunity to work in different fields outside the home. When men went off to battle and the shortage of manpower arises, then women played their specific role in military.
Once they did have the same rights, they were taken away from them, abolishing the great things they did for their homes. Proving that, "When the war ended, a majority of women wanted to keep their jobs and their new-found economic and social independence, but nearly all were laid off, as orders for war materials decreased and millions of men returned home from military service seeking jobs. " ("The Role of Women in World War II"). Before the Women's Rights movement, women fought hard for what they had longing for, which was equality against the diversity men and women shared. Consequently, "Some 350,000 women served in the U.S. Armed Forces in World War II, both at home and abroad."
Women were expected to stay at home and tend to the kids or cook and clean. As the war progressed women were beginning to be the ones tending to the home front of America. Women were referred to as the “secret weapon”(www.nwhm.org)of America during World War II. They were used as advertisement to get more people to support the war effort. Programs were made by the government for women to participate in the war. For an example, the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps
How did World War II transform women's lives? In two texts, "The Role of Women in World War II," Staff of the National World War II Museum, and "A Family Affair," by Gina DeAngelis, it talks about women having to work during the war, women realizing they can do more than just being wives and home makers, and how women can become successful. First, the text The Role of Women in World War II, it talks about women working during World War II. In the passage it says, "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." Because of this, women realized that they are capable of working the same jobs that men work.
During World War II, Hollywood films strongly influenced the roles American women played, both while men were away and directly after they returned. These films often sent the message that while their men were away, women must be romantically loyal and keep a secure home for the men to return to. The films also often encouraged women to do their patriotic duty and their part in the war effort by doing war work.
Women were a massive part of the war effort during this war. The roles of your typical woman changed greatly within society. While the men were away fighting with guns, women were home fighting with newfound skills. We started to see less stay-at-home moms, and more women taking jobs that generally belonged to men over the years. Without this change in societal structure, it would not have been possible for America to produce enough to win a war as great as this. Along with joining the workforce, many women began to join the military and fight for their country, something that had not occurred very much in the past.
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.
America’s involvement in World War II created significant opportunities for American women on the home front. At the same time, it stirred conflict in the gender roles of Women during wartime. One of the main issues that dominated women’s lives during the war was balancing the role at home, with the new pressures placed on them due to the war economy. In most cases, the strides made regarding women’s rights during World War II were misleading, as policy makers used the female workforce for short-term assistance only. American Women faced varying experiences of life during World War II due to factors such as ethnicity and class largely affected the social implications of war. Nevertheless, the advances made by women during this time frame began a movement that would soon give empowerment to women throughout the country, inspiring independence and personal growth through the ways of unions, employment, and a change in traditional gender roles.
In World War II, women contributed in many ways by entering the battle. Some of the jobs the women held were Army nurses, Red Cross members, factory work, etc. The United States were one of the few countries that put their women to work and was ridiculed for it. In 1948, President Truman signed the Women 's Armed Services Integration Act which authorized regular and reserve status for women in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. These women showed true leadership by becoming leaders in battle and left a lasting legacy for all women to come.
Before the World War II, many women only held jobs in the house providing for their children, husband, and the needs that came with taking care of the household, but during the war, this completely changed. Many women were given new opportunities consisting of new jobs, new skills, new challenges, and greater chances to do things that were once only of imagination to them. Women made the war especially possible with taking over the jobs that men would usually do, but could not do because of the war. One of the first things that encouraged women to take on jobs of the men who went off to war was the propaganda. Propaganda consisted of films, radio, and print. These advertisements used showed women fighting in the army and many working in
The Effect of World War II on American Women America entered the 2nd World War in December 1940 after the Japanese Air force attacked American war ships at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii. They fought alongside Britain and France against Nazi Germany and her allies. Although many American soldiers were injured and killed in the war, the impact on Americans back home was generally positive, as the US was too far away from Europe to suffer from bombing etc. America was far better off than it had been before.
The role of woman in World War Two was an essential behind the scenes effort. Just as a cameraman is essential to the making of a movie the roles women played in the war was essential to our allied victory. In the war women provided food, clothing, funds, medical work, safety, knowledge and a safe and secure country to return to at the end of the war effort. All the help provided by women gave helped prove gender equality can work in society and helped lead to women's rights in our county.
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
December 7, 1941 was the day when America declared war, but it was also the years following that women had the chance to show their patriotism in a way they never had before; working outside of their homes. World War II was a chance to contribute to what was needed most, the war efforts. In a dire situation that is War, women moved from their homes help the America for the better of society and their husbands off at war.
World War II was the first time that women were greatly encouraged to join the workforce. Nearly 6 million women took industrial jobs such as steel plants, shipyards, and lumber mills at the urging of the government and media (“Women of the Century”). Because the men were away fighting in