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USA - A Divided Union 1941-80
The Role of Women in WW2
Key
Question: How did the lives and social status of women change during WW2? |
Quick Links - WWII - Women, Blacks, Economy; Women in 1950s, McCarthyism, Civil Rights Reasons, Montgomery, Little Rock, Tactics, Successes; Black Power, Youth and Students, Women's Movement, JFK's New Frontier, Johnson's Great Society, Watergate |
Keywords are explained down the page
Background
Before the war few women followed careers. Most jobs for women were ‘traditional’ roles such as nursing, secretarial or caring jobs.
Women
in industry Millions
of men joined the armed forces, more workers were needed to fill their places in the factories. This changed the traditional views of women. Job opportunities in munitions factories for working-class women allowed them
to earn a much higher wage than before. Women became machinists, lumberjacks, dockers and railway engineers.
Attitudes
changed – people supported these changes. In 1939 only 36 women were employed in shipbuilding. By 1943 the number was 200,000.
Women
in the armed forces
Some 300,000 women served in the army, navy and nursing corps, and a quarter of these served overseas.
How
did the role of women change? Women were portrayed in the traditional ‘young and good-looking’ way in beauty parades for women
in the armed services. However images of working women were also used to help change the stereotypes – Rosie the Riveter was a fictional character used in propaganda and news reports to encourage women to take up ‘man’s work’.
Use a Quote! Examiners love them!
“I
remember a woman saying on the bus that
she hoped the war didn’t end until she
got her refrigerator paid for.” –
Peggy Terry describes life in
Kentucky From
“The Good War” by
Key Words
munitions - bullets, shells and bombs machinists - factory machine operators lumberjacks - timber workers dockers - harbour and dockyard workers stereotypes - a fixed idea of something or someone propaganda - information intended to influence people
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Click above to try a revision exercise
Web Links
A great student page about Rosie (USA)
Loads of web links to explore (USA)
Lots of US war posters aimed at women
Recommended Revision Guide £5.99
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