World War II: Equal Opportunities For Women

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 changing roles of women throughout history has been drastic, and none more so than the period during and after World War II. The irrevocable changes that occurred once the war started and women went to work were unprecedented.

During World War II there were many job opportunities for women. The war opened new doors during a time of depression. As husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers went to fight in the war the women went to work at factories, offices, and even on military bases. These women went to work in paying jobs that were usually for men. Many women became journalists, photographers and broadcasters. They were covering the biggest story ever, the men that were at war and the women that were at home doing the man’s work. Women even joined the military. They were not put in front line positions but they did important jobs and many lost their lives. During the war it was not only the white

Prior to World War II, most people believed that the women’s place was in the home. While some women did work outside of the home, it was work that was seen as being suitable for ladies. However, during World War II, all of this changed. With the encouragement of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, women began to take on new jobs doing whatever they could to help with the war efforts.

During world war two, woman were given many opportunities that they hadn’t had before. While most men were overseas fighting in the war, Women were encouraged to take up jobs that had been vacated by men. This was an unprecedented era which saw more women enter the workforce than any other time in history. Their role during the

Social and economic inequality between men and women is still an issue discussed today. When women were first allowed into ‘men’s’ jobs during World War II its opened social barriers, however the change in gender roles was only temporary, and women faced discrimination. Despite the inequalities they faced, women were able to experience a sense of responsibility outside of the home, and pride for their country. The different gender roles between men and women, and the governments acceptance of women in the workplace created a sense of responsibility for their country during World War II, caused by the reaction of men towards the women who joined the workforce despite the detriments and inequality the women faced the loyalty remained.

In the 1940s women were called upon to help the war effort and support their “boys overseas” by stepping into factory jobs, signing up as nurses, and assisting in any way they could. Women enjoyed some of their greatest independence in these years as they did their part to support their country. The end of World War II brought many changes to the American people and women in particular. As men returned home from war women were forced back out of the workplaces they had only recently occupied, to return to the home. Not everyone had a positive view of the newfound independence of the American woman as author Arnold Green scripted in a 1956 sociology video:

Many people have never considered what women were doing in WWII when their husbands left to fight. Their lives weren’t easy or normal during the war. Women had to work just as hard as men, sometimes even more so. In this essay, I will discuss the position of American women before World War II, during the war, and at the end of the war.

World War II was simply a glimpse at what America could become, but the cultural climate in the United States at the time was not ready for such dramatic change. African Americans still had to fight under white officers in a segregated army. And while many blacks enjoyed some freedom in the northern industrial cities, the south was still controlled by Jim Crow laws. All the political power and economic standing they had gained during the war was pushed aside as white men returned from war to take over factory jobs. In the women’s arena, the social and economic justice they thought was coming their way was actually not. Despite commissions and regulatory bodies in place, women were routinely paid less and were even laid off at the end of the war with no regard to how well they preformed. On top of this, labor unions rejected most women from being able to join. This eliminated their ability to fight for equal rights in the work place. In the long run, women had to return to the dreary house life they had left, but this forged the way for a new women’s

Gender roles of labor opportunity for women were changed as the outcome of World War II. Before the hardship war, women were seen as “stay at home” mothers according to Historpedia in the article of “A Change in Gender Roles: Women’s Impact during WWII in the Workforce and Military”. A stereotypical perfect American family would be that the men were obligated to bring home money from work and the women in the family were obligated to raise their children and do house chores. As the United States joins in the war, women were brought into factories to help produce war production as the men were sent off to serve the military, states Historpedia. In the factories, women were producing airplanes, warships, munitions, tanks, and even working started in technical and scientific fields as well.

World War II was the catalyst that changed the opportunities available to women and eventually the way they were regarded as a viable workforce. Suddenly women throughout the United States were pushing themselves to their limits to support the war effort. Women were fulfilling jobs and responsibilities that many previously believed to be impossible for their gender. Opportunities were opened in steel plants, ammunition factories, and even the United States military. As the war progressed the number of male workers declined dramatically. Society had no choice but to turn to the mothers, sisters, and daughters of our nation for help. The results for each woman varied

"I think a lot of women said, Screw that noise. 'Cause they had a taste of freedom, they had a taste of making their own money, a taste of spending their own money, making their own decisions. I think the beginning of the women 's movement had its seeds right there in World War Two." President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s quote clearly illustrates the significance of women in the workforce during World War Two and the feelings women may have felt. World War II was crucial for women in the workforce because it was the first time the government needed women in the workforce to replace men in their jobs, while they were away at war. Although, women had some involvement in the First Great War, there was no greater demand for women to the workforce then during World War Two. Although women played a crucial role in the successes of the Second Great War, society had varying opinions and outlooks revolving around women’s involvement in the workforce. Not everyone was supportive of women’s involvement in the labor force because of the stereotypes formed many years previous to World War II regarding women being simply homemakers and working only in their homes, or very seldom as secretaries. This view of women caused many problems for women in the workforce and it continues to be a problem for women today. It is evident while looking at this particular time in history, that there were varying views of women being a part of the workforce; it is clear that there are people who thought

During the World War II, women played a role in the industrial and military through the workforce, helping the United States in building the country while in War and support troops from the warfare fighting for the nation. After the World War II, women had to lose their jobs over the veterans back from the War. Women were seen as no skill workers, home moms, and housewives. Of all the beneficial of post war, none of them rewards to women since veterans took more than the fifty percent of the work force. In the 1940s and 1950s, women continued their march into the workplace since traditional feminine roles of homemaker and mother (AP, 832). In the post war, young men and women tight up after they got back from the war. Baby boom is the huge explosion from births to returning

Historically, wartime has always brought upon big changes for the lives of citizens in warring nations. Wars are often major points in a country’s history, catalyzing progression toward societal changes. In World War II, this was true for every nation involved. Specifically, America underwent many major changes in tradition after World War II ravaged the world. Although Americans did not experience firsthand the destruction of their homeland like their European counterparts, the events of World War II did drastically transform America. One of the most major changes brought to the U.S. by World War II was the change to women’s role in society. Traditionally, women in America were not seen as a group of people who were supposed to be working;

Women had their own jobs and some of them made equal or even more contributions to the family than men. Men’s and women’s roles were largely decided by their economic status within the family. As women gained economic independence from men, they posed a great challenge to men’s absolute authority within the family. If a woman had work, her husband would be more likely to take her advice and she could have more freedom to express their ideas. Without the war, it would be impossible for women to find new opportunities in the job market and then change their roles within the family. World War II led to a revolution in American families and women’s and men’s roles within the family were rearranged after women also became bread winners.