"Women who stepped up were measured as citizens of the nation,
not as women...
This was a people's war and everyone was in it."
-Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby¹
not as women...
This was a people's war and everyone was in it."
-Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby¹
Impacts:
Over 300,000 women served in World War II and about 2-3 million held jobs at home. The national crisis of the war finally allowed for women to take on a new role with more responsibilities.
WOMEN ARE ALLOWED TO WORK!
Before the war, the predominate view was that the position of a woman was to be wife and mother, not breadwinner. "The need to mobilize the entire population behind the war effort was so compelling that political and social leaders agreed that both women and men would have to change their perceptions of gender roles—at least as long as there was a national emergency."³ Women finally had a chance to contribute. Many were given positions never held by women before, all while managing the house alone for the first time.
Before the war, the predominate view was that the position of a woman was to be wife and mother, not breadwinner. "The need to mobilize the entire population behind the war effort was so compelling that political and social leaders agreed that both women and men would have to change their perceptions of gender roles—at least as long as there was a national emergency."³ Women finally had a chance to contribute. Many were given positions never held by women before, all while managing the house alone for the first time.
MARRIED WOMEN GIVEN RIGHT TO WORK!
After the war, women had proven that they could work. They were finally respected by America! They played their part in a time of crisis. They had taken on more responsibilities than women had before, and they had succeeded. In the 1940s, "more married women were in the labor force than at any previous time in American history."⁴ Middle-class families finances didn't match their aspirations. "Many families wanted extra income -- and required a wife's earnings -- to afford the lifestyle they desired."⁴
After the war, women had proven that they could work. They were finally respected by America! They played their part in a time of crisis. They had taken on more responsibilities than women had before, and they had succeeded. In the 1940s, "more married women were in the labor force than at any previous time in American history."⁴ Middle-class families finances didn't match their aspirations. "Many families wanted extra income -- and required a wife's earnings -- to afford the lifestyle they desired."⁴
ASPIRING FOR MORE!
Even though they greatly improved their role in society by taking up more responsibilities at home and overseas, women were still not satisfied. Women wanted to be treated equally to men and wanted all of the freedoms men had. Their role in WWII ultimately led to all American women aspiring for equality and more rights. Without these engineers, nurses, aviators, soldiers, farmers, and entertainers, women wouldn't have all of the freedoms they have today!
¹Quote from GoodReads Inc.; ²Picture from National Women's History Museum; ³Excerpt from National Women's History Museum; ⁴Excerpt from PBS (American Experience);