The Farmers
Most women worked on the farm during World War II. They got jobs as farm hands or continued working their own fields. Evon Cunningham was included in this group. She had to work on the farm after her husband left for Okinawa. She said in an interview, "I had my daughter two years into the war. My husband was in Texas for army training, but he was allowed to come back to see her before he left for Okinawa. He was there for two years. Soon after he left, I realized I needed to start making money. I worked at a mill in Murray, KY for a few months and I enjoyed the type of work, but I had a daughter and I couldn't find anyone that could watch her anymore. I had to quit my job and go look for work closer to home in Paducah, KY. My neighbor hired me to work on her farm for 12 hours a day because her husband had also left for war. I got paid 25 cents a day working on her farm. Only 25 cents and I was working like a man. I know women can do anything men can do and better. I'd know because I did."
"I know women can do anything men can do and better. I'd know because I did."
-Evon Cunningham
-Evon Cunningham
¹Picture from About.com; ²Excerpt from Sydney's Interview with Evon Cunningham