During World War II about 350,000 women contributed to our defeat against Japan. Holding their weight by serving in the Forces, at home as well as abroad was a significant addition to the surrendering of Japan. It was no secret that women were underestimated during this era. But this opportunity was one that many women would not allow to pass them by despite the way that Germany and other countries looked at us for allowing our women to participate in these actions. It was because of women that we held such triumph during the war, just as it was because of World War II that women are where we are today in America. Although, it was not likely for women to be working during this time period, women were always use to labor. Labor was extremely familiar to women, especially to women of color and low class profiling. They were so use to being active and hands on. They would serve as Nannies, House Keepers, and Cooks. But once the war took flight it would be a whole new level of work for the women. With husbands and sons, fighting for the country. Financial aid was needed for many families but was only provided for few. Causing women to take on labor other then the typical household duties. Stepping up to the plate: With thousands of men abroad fighting for our countries, the men at home to take care of the working field was little to none. The economy would begin to flunk all until women took a step into the field. When the cats away the mice will play and that is exactly what the women did. They took over heavy-duty jobs abandoning traditional jobs and expectations. There would be no more cooking and cleaning. No more serving at restaurants, or staying home waiting for husbands and children’ to arrive. The women realized that ... ... middle of paper ... ...." Photography - Margaret Bourke-White at GALLERY M. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Mar. 2014. "Restless." SundanceTV. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2014. "Rosie the Riveter." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2014. Stamberg, Susan. "Female WWII Pilots: The Original Fly Girls." NPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2014. United States. National Park Service. "Rosie the Riveter: Women Working During World War II." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2014. "War, Women, and the News: How Female Journalists Won the Battle to Cover World War II Hardcover." War, Women, and the News: How Female Journalists Won the Battle to Cover World War II: Catherine Gourley: 9780689877520: Amazon.com: Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2014. "Women Come to the FrontWar, Women, and Opportunity." War, Women, and Opportunity. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2014.
Rosie the riveter was the face of recruiting women into the Armed Forces during WWII. The increasing demand for soldiers was not being filled fast enough by just males. As a result, between the years 1940 and 1945, the percentage of female service members increased from 27% to 37%. Even on the civilian side of things, the ratio of married working women outside of their homes increased to one out of every four. The population of women that did not join the war was prompted by Rosie the Riveter’s iconic image to work in one of the many munitions industries throughout the US. In 1943, not only had the female population contributed exponential numbers in support of the war; but women had begun to dominate. Reports indicate that more than 310,000 women worked in the U.S. aircraft industry; this made up more than half of the total workforce. Prior to this moment in history, women’s involvement in the aircraft industry was merely one percent.
Harris, Carol. "Women Under Fire in World War Two". BBC News. BBC, 17 Feb. 2011. Web. 19 Apr. 2014
“At the war’s end, even though a majority of women surveyed reported wanted to keep their jobs, many were forced out by men returning home and by the downturn in demand for war materials… The nation that needed their help in
Red Apple Education Ltd. (2014). Women on the home front. Retrieved March 31, 2014 , from skwirk interactive schooling: http://www.skwirk.com/p-c_s-14_u-91_t-202_c-675/women-on-the-home-front/nsw/women-on-the-home-front/australia-and-world-war-ii/women-in-world-war-ii
...owards more love stories. Essentially more forms of propaganda ensued to let women know what they should be doing. More domestic jobs became available such as being a maid, restaurant work, dishwashing and cleaning. However women who worked war jobs wanted their own maids now so they could pursue their own dreams. They felt inspired and accomplished. Lola Wiexl mentioned that although skills within the workforce were easily learned, within the household traditions still persisted. Lola herself said she'd go home cook, clean and do the laundry while her brother laid on the couch. She didn't question it before but she was angry about it for years after her war time experience. Thus patriarchal hegemonies still existed after the war and were perpetuated by the government and media as much as possible to solicit women who participated in activities outside of the home.
Women in the US Military - Civil War Era. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2017.
Terkel, Studs. "The Good War": an Oral History of World War Two. New York: Pantheon, 1984. Print.
Sorensen, Aja, Rosie the Riveter: Women Working during World War II. Retrieved from http://www.nps.gov/pwro/collection/website/rosie.htm, (n.d.)
Various socioeconomic classes of women were targeted by wartime propaganda mobilizing them to “do their part”. Customarily, single women of the lower and middle classes were recruited into the...
“ The courage of women in the munitions factories has never been sufficiently recognized. They had to work under conditions of real danger to life and limb, and what some of the...
In conclusion: WWI was a chance for women to show the world that women can do anything a man can and should be treated as equals. Women made many contributions to the war and paved the way for women to have more rights and freedom today.
Howatt, Megan. "Sniper Girls and Fearless Heroines: Wartime Representations of Foreign Women In English Canadian Press, 1941-1943." A Companion to Women's Military History. By Dorotea Gucciardo. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Print.
When all the men were across the ocean fighting a war for world peace, the home front soon found itself in a shortage for workers. Before the war, women mostly depended on men for financial support. But with so many gone to battle, women had to go to work to support themselves. With patriotic spirit, women one by one stepped up to do a man's work with little pay, respect or recognition. Labor shortages provided a variety of jobs for women, who became street car conductors, railroad workers, and shipbuilders. Some women took over the farms, monitoring the crops and harvesting and taking care of livestock. Women, who had young children with nobody to help them, did what they could do to help too. They made such things for the soldiers overseas, such as flannel shirts, socks and scarves.
In 1942, according to Goldin (1991), women were inducted into the armed services. A bill was presented to the House of Representatives to establish a women’s auxiliary in the Army. As a result, the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps was formed. The Navy had the (WAVES) Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service, the Coast Guard established the (SPARS) Semper Paratus – their motto meaning “Always Read”, and the Marines accepted women. IN 1943, two other groups were formed giving women the opportunity to fly airplanes. The (WAFA), Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron) and the WASP (Women’s Airforce Service Pilots) who tested planes and ferried them from one American coast to the other.
National Archives. World War II: Women in the Work Force during World War II. n.d. 15 November 2013 .