The Role Of Nurses In The Second World War

The sun was shining and Christmas was just around the corner. In the United States, the emotion in the air was carefree with a hint of hidden tension from thoughts of war in Europe. With this mindset, friends and family kissed their loved ones goodbye without realizing that it would be their last time. That very morning of December 7, 1941, Japanese fighter planes shot and killed neutral American soldiers in a surprise attack. The very next day, the United States declared war against Japan; bringing Americans into the Second World War. Pearl Harbor motivated men to arms to fight for their country; however, they were not the only ones. Making up half of the world’s population, but often the most overlooked, women for the first time were being

Women had to simply perform their already established expectations by listening to instructions of male doctors. For these reasons, the role of a nurse was typically depicted as feminine and usually fulfilled by women because they were perceived as natural caregivers. Even though women are seen as the more moral gender, not just any woman could become a nurse. Previously, nurses were looked down upon in both profession and social status. It was not until the 1900’s, when Florence Nightingale established the first requirements and standards for

There was already a war going on for decades, a war against gender inequality. Men dominated society and the roles of women for lifetimes; women were told what jobs to pursue such as store clerk, nanny, house cleaner, secretary, and nurses. When World War II occurred, it was an opportunity for women to prove their worth in society. Women started to flourish in the same roles that were originally intended for men. Not only were women doing well on the home front, but nurses were also proving to be more professional and respectable than men thought. In previous wars, women were not seen as members of the war effort, but that all changed with World War II. Women nurses were finally gaining the respect and approval they deserved. Although there is still inequality between men and women in the world, nurses would not have come this far without their involvement in World War