Introduction

Welcome to Women in World War II!

This website is all about women’s involvement during World War II, which was the largest and most violent armed conflicts in the history of mankind. It was considered one of the most widespread wars in history. Women’s involvement helped play a role during World War II though. With the help of World War II, women were now looked at differently.

Poster for recruiting women (2).

Women were looked at as not being as “masculine” as men were at the time. The man was always considered the provider and worker who went off to war to help serve his country. Individuals believed that women should not be allowed to serve during the war because their jobs were meant to be “housewives.” A women’s job entitled her to stay at home with the children, do the laundry, clean the house, cook the meals, and take care of their husband. Until bills were passed that allowed women to be able to partake in the same jobs as men were allowed to, which one of them was being able to serve in the Army.

World War II transformed the United States from into a leading military power with forces positioned in many countries. During this time is when the world started to see women being able to partake in jobs that men had. Some of these jobs included, the Army and Navy Nurse Corps, Women’s Army Corps, Army Air Forces, the Navy’s Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service, and in the Coast Guard. Women were starting to make a great contribution to the war effort.

The hard skilled labor of women was symbolized in the United States by the concept of Rosie the Riveter, which was a women factory laborer performing what was previously considered man’s work. It was the cultural icon of the United States, which represented

"We Can Do It" made as an inspirational image to boost worker morale (1).

“We Can Do It” made as an inspirational image to boost worker morale

the American women who worked in factories and shipyards during World War II. Rosie the Riveter was commonly used as a symbol of feminism.

With the help of World War II, women were now looked at as something more powerful. They were looked at with integrity as well as being able to perform the same tasks men did. With the help of World War II, it provided a way for women to do what they wanted, as well as gain a new insight on life. World War II helped women realize that they can be independent and do not always have to rely on a man.

Overall, the website contains information about the military involvement women were involved in, the different roles women had during the military, some history about the Army Auxiliary Corps and the Army Nurse Corps, the attitudes, expectations, adherence to typical roles, and systemic factors that were claimed to affect the future of women in the workforce, along with occupational change during the war, minority women, and the impact on women’s roles during the post-war period. The website also provides oral history videos from women that served in the War.

Advertisement for women (2).

Advertisement for women (2).

 

References:

(1) “We Can Do It!” National Museum of American History. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.

(2) “WOMEN IN WWII AT A GLANCE:.” The National WWII Museum. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.

Leave a Reply