The Role Of Women During The Second World War

INTRO: The role of women transformed drastically between the First World War and after the Second World War (1914-1945). Women weren’t required to perform the ‘traditional’ roles anymore. All over the world women’s roles were changing even though many challenges were in their way. Women fought for equality, the trust of the opposite sex in the workforce and basically any other basic human rights, such as voting. Women went through many obstacles to be where they stand today and that should never be taken as granted. Even though a total equality between men and women might not be in existence, women have come really far from where they started.

PARA1: Originally women before WWI had no other roles other than to stay at home, take care of their family, clean, cook and obviously raise children. Women had no basic rights during this time, they could not vote (in the USA, however, Australian women could vote from 1902) and an awfully small population of women actually ‘worked’ outside the home. Women were extremely simple, they had barely if none makeup and dressed overly simple. Then in WWI, the males left to defend the countries so women all over the world could try to settle down more into the workforce and complete ‘male’ jobs. ”During WWI (1914-1918), large numbers of women were recruited into jobs vacated by men who had gone to fight in the war” (-WWW.Striking-Women.org). This was the first time more women had the confidence and could become a part of the police force, Fire-fighters and also other more significant jobs that were obviously new to women. Women could not be yet trusted going in battlegrounds, that is why “the government politely discouraged those women who wanted to perform some kind of military service, however, w...

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...ies in hope to find work, and women could not work due to most job positions being filled with males. After the Great Depression, came WWII, a horrible time for men but a surprisingly significant period for women. During this time women were independent and could perform similar tasks as WWI, but with even more opportunities to improve on. Almost all around the world, ladies could work due to the small amount of men left to perform those tasks. Even post-WWII women were encouraged to stay in the workforce and ever since then, women have been making huge contributions to work industries and the society. Even though many challenges stood in their ways such as non-equality and the judgement of the opposite sex. Women really proved themselves that they are just as strong as males and can do whatever they set their mind to, which was something most men did not understand.