World War II as a Time of Opportunities for American Women

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World War II as a Time of Opportunities for American Women 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 but the nation was to be forever changed in how it looked at women in the work force. Although employment opportunities after the war were significantly reduced for women due to the return of the male soldiers, the effort and abilities women displayed during these difficult times had far reaching effects. Women's actions in small communities like the Hunter Chemical Plant in Huntsville, Alabama and Bridge and Steel Industrial Plant in Mt Vernon, Ohio changed the way men viewed their physical abilities. The creation of the Women's Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) resulted in changing the way the government viewed women as a viable asset and led the way for the women who serve proudly in today's military. In this paper I will address the change in the attitudes of society and the way small communities and the government itself viewed the physical capabilities of women. In order to fully recognize and appreciate the changes which occurred in the working environment during this time, we mus... ... middle of paper ... ...one.army.mil/history/women.html accessed 16 March 1999 Keller, David N. Cooper Industries: 1833-1983 (Athens: Ohio University Press, 1983) Strom Hartman, Sharon H. and Wood, Linda P. 1995. What Did You Do In The War Grandma?: Woman and World War II URL www.stg.brown.edu/projects/WWII-women/vwvtv/ref.htm accessed 16 March 1999 Seattle Times Associated Press. 1997. ?Rosie the Riveter? of WWII fame dies at 77 Monday June 2,1997 accessed 16 March 1999 Wartel?s Senior Comps, Hired and Fired: The Effects of World War II on Women?s Employment in the United States Compared to Mt. Vernon, Ohio, 1938-1948. no date URL http://www2.kenyon.edu/people/wartelse/essay.html accessed 16 March 1999. Wilson, Barbara A. 1996. Women in World War II: They Also Served URL http://userpages.aug.com/captbarb/femvetalso.html accessed 16 March 1999

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