Women and World War II - Research Paper Example

Women and World War II Changing Women Forever Introduction Analysis of the two world wars will reveal their tremendous influence in all the spheres of America and the same caused for notable changes in the women of that era. It is common knowledge that women of the ancient times were under restriction from actively participating in different fields of social life. The women of America were no exception and during World War II, American beliefs and traditions bound women in the four walls of the room. They were not permitted to come to the frontiers of the society. After the emergence of the Second World War, one can see changes in the attitude of the people and they allowed some freedom for women. One of the reasons for this change was that they understood the significance of the assistance of women which acted upon themselves as a motivating factor in achieving victory in the war. This understanding became as a turning point in the social and cultural life of American woman. It promoted traditional housewives and mothers to assist men in the war. The women helped their male counter parts in different ways. Americans felt the need of large amount of employees in the industrial sector for the production of machines in the war front. Most of their men population was in the battle field and rest of them were in working sector and it caused the need of women employees increased. So they desired to send their women for the duties like building aircrafts, tanks and ships. For this production, there occurred the help from ladies became integral and it forced them to the industry sector as employees (Bogan, 2008). Analysing the role of the American women in the Second World War, one can see that they changed a lot and had exerted a tremendous influence in the formation of new world by learning lessons from the previous wars. Part I Women during this time were forced to take on unusual roles either out of duty or out of financial need to help in the war efforts. A. How did women think that the war would affect them and their family? One cannot say that national loyalty was the only motivation for forcing women to undertake unusual roles, but economic prosperity also motivated women to go to workplace. Another factor which many slogans populated in America during Second World War was creating awareness among the women folk that priority should be given to country’s need than their physical or material comfort. When the war broke out majority of the American women were tensed and they thought that war will badly affect them and their family. One of the prominent reasons for their suffering was that almost all the women were directly or indirectly connected to the war that the male folk in the war front were husbands, boyfriend, father or close relative. When men went to battle field, women cannot make sure that they will come back or/and if come back, it may be with injury or as handicapped. The advice and message passed from the propaganda campaign also increased their worries. This campaign informs them that if work hard the war will end sooner. These war campaigns also warned them that “if they did not work then a soldier would die, people would call them slackers, and they were equivalent to men who avoid the draft” (Rosie the Riveter, n. d.). Different studies identifies that these campaign acted as motivating factors to the American women. B. Women’s views and future generations change because of the war. Before the emergence of War, in America, minority and lower-class women were in the work field, but there were cultural and gender differences among the labours; and majority of people were against women employment. Women recruitment to the workplace, as part of the World War II changed this condition and attitude in a certain extent. At the initial stage women’s respond to participate in the workplace was not good that they were reluctant to break out from their tradition. After the propaganda campaign, response from women’s part changed and they turned to war jobs in military and in the industrial sectors. Later, the workforce of women increased from one quarter to one third. At the initial stage, men and employers were not ready to provide good jobs and training to women employees, but gradually this condition changed and they find that women causes comparatively less accident than male did (Rosie the Riveter. n. d.) But some of the changes occurred during that time were superficial and temporary. Most women went back to their traditional roles, but it makes a road for the women into the future and their successors follow the path blazed by them. C. Women roles changed and women changed with it During this war lives and roles changed. They find opportunities and their responsibility to the country. When men went for war or factory works, women get ready to take the males responsibilities. Also they were ready to do traditional male jobs like combat duty in military. Gradually they attained power and responsibility as the men folk and became courageous enough to face difficult situations of life. Part II Women left home to work and had to leave their children in daycare, what were women’s feelings about this? Was this something that woman resented or happy with? During this time, the working mothers had to face many difficulties in the work field and in families. One of the serious issues that affected them was child care. They could not find much time for caring their children and society blamed them that there is possibility for their children to become juvenile delinquents or turn to other criminal activities. It is this critical juncture that forced think of another substitute for caring their children with motherly affection and care and it resulted in the concept of day care. Then they could assign their children in day care centers. Childcare needs to be offered in order for women to go out to work. In their book, Battleground Amy Lind and Stephanie Brzuzy observe that situation and they make it clear when they remark that “during the great depression of 1930s, however, childcare use and offering were greatly expanded as part of the Work Progress Administration (WPA).”(Lind Amy, & Stephanie, Brzuzy, 2008.). Major aim of child care centers at that time was creating job, through child care. Another factor is that it encouraged women’s to go for work by admitting their children in child care centers. For example, the shipyard companies like Kaiser and Richmond provide day care facility for their women employees. Employers and the government understand that for attracting and stand up for working mothers, childcare facility is an essential factor. So they offered childcare centers like day care for promoting women to go to work. A. Federal Government gets involved. Based or the requirements from different peoples in America, American Federal government has given a new definition for the day care and it become legal. They emerged for fulfilling the needs from the normal families and to provide knowledge and assign genuine responsibility of the state (Rose, 1999). B. The Lanham Act federal funding for daycare was established in 1942. In 1943, a bigger development in childcare under the Lanham Act occurred. The reason for this extension was the amazing growth of women workforce due to war. So the federal government funded large number of daycare centers. According to Amy Lind and Stephanie Brzuzy “…the federal government funded more than 3,000 daycare centers for approximately 60,000 children as part of this act.”(Lind Amy, & Stephanie, Brzuzy, 2008.pp.81). But at the end of the war total numbers of childcare centers began to decrease. Part III During the war, there was much government propaganda, a call to arms so to speak, to draw women into the workforce; because of this, women were applying for jobs at rates never seen before in America. War constitutes immense tax policy in America during the time of World War II and it paved the way for the implementation of taxes to pay for the war. Government propaganda requires more female representation in workforce. Active participation of the United States ended the unemployment problem and it helps to prevent the lacuna of new jobs. A. How were women looked upon in this newly created workforce? The initial stage the rate of female workers who had joined the work field was fewer in numbers. War paved the way for some significant changes in the role of woman in American society. Women were going to dole out their country with a courage, inspiration, endurance and devotion to work as the mail partners in World War II. Female workers expressed their willingness to work in Industrial fields and Military departments. As a result of income producing status, women in America have earned responsibility of house keeping, moral and religious part of their life and most of them have joined various jobs like men. The online article entitled Women in Industry World War II remarks “In wartime polls the majority of working women indicated that they enjoyed their new jobs and particularly valued the chance to meet new people” (Women in Industry World War II, n. d.). B. What types of jobs were offered to these women? Large number of women joined the military services and they received their jobs as a means of national service. After the war women in America have joined high paying industrial jobs which they were debarred in the past. During the time of war women workers became an inevitable part of defence industries. The article states that; “During the war, the female presence in defence plants jumped over 400 percent; in the aircraft industry alone, women made up 39 percent of the work force”(Women in Industry World War II, n. d.). On the other hand, during the post war time, because of the shortage of job vacancies majority of women were compelled to get back to their own traditional jobs. Though at the beginning of the war women were allowed to join light industrial jobs, later the women folk entered to factory jobs, as a result of the advice of War Man power Commission (Women in Industry World War II, n. d.). They joined heavy jobs such as welding in the aircraft, ship building, and the mine industries. C. What was the government doing to recruit women? Researchers prove that war promotes enormous opportunities to enter non-traditional jobs. The purpose of rehabilitate the war industry American Government established various programs including taxation Government and other Governmental agencies recruit women in various jobs. As the part of recruitment, Government conducted publicity campaigns for female workers. These campaigns were really effective and encouraged women to enter to the field which were once dominated by men. Various agencies both Governmental and non- Governmental, such as War Manpower Commission, AND Women’s Army Crops (WAC) promotes the female recruitment programs during the time of World War II. The Federal Government passed laws and economic compensations and grants for agencies as a part of enrichment of women recruitment in the time of War. Part IV Besides the women who went out to work on our home front there were women who made significant contributions during the war like volunteering and serving in the armed forces. A. Who were these women and what were some contributions made for the war effort? Large numbers of American women were participated in the World War II and their contribution was precious. Some of such women are Delana Jensen Close, who worked in a Yuba Manufacturing Company as a machinist. She assisted for the manufacturing of hoister guns, which is used for firing from high trajectories. She was the only one women selected by the company for operating this big machine (Rosie the Riveter, n. d). Donna Jean Harvey, she was worked as a riveter and radio installer. Her company was United L’heyenne Modification center were the installation and setting of radar system was done. Grace F.Ochenski, she wad worked on airplanes and Lois Lettow, who is worked as a metal helper in the company named Moorre Dry Dock. B. What happened to the women after the war? After the Second World War some women who were not employed became employed and some others lost their jobs, due to the reduction of childcare centers after the war. But many women come to the main stream of the working field and employers as well as men change their attitude in women employment. C. Working women of this era became liberated and modern. Different historical studies have identified that there had changes in the attitude of the women during this time and they were more liberated and formed different social service organizations. It was visible in the women of the late 19th century and many women engaged in different professions and took active role in social life. Such a trend was more expressive with the women in the colonies and the gender imbalance gave them the opportunity to come to the frontiers of life. It was after the Second World War, women began to actively participate in liberations movements. History identifies this period as notable for the “second wave”, followed with the Women’s Liberation Movements of the First World War. The second Liberation movements took greater changes among the women folk that they began to work in industries. “…the modern Women’s Liberation movement had its origins in the entry of women into the industrial labor force during World War Two.”(Women’s Liberation Movement, n. d) D. Did the creative side of women die? The creative side of the women improves after the World War II. Many of them find job opportunities and came to the main stream of the society. There were some exceptions also, but the entry of women in different working fields, especially in male dominant areas can compensate the exceptions. In this sense they become more creative and skilled. The above mentioned women like Delana Jensen Close clarify this fact. Conclusion Reaching the conclusion, one can see that Second World War constituted considerable changes in the stature of social and financial side of women in America during that time. The crisis of the war forced them to undertake unusual roles and they suffered both social and family problems. Emergence of the war paved the way for new opportunities for women folk in various fields. The result of non-traditional jobs of women in America has reached the mainstream of the society. Federal Government and other agencies empowered the process of female recruitment. The post war time majority of American women forced to back their traditional jobs. War provided great opportunity to reveal their duty and devotion towards the nation. If one analyzes the history, one can see the gradual change of American women and their significant contribution through volunteering and military servicing during and post World War II. References Bogan, Dallas. (2008).American Women during World War II, History of Campbell County. Retrieved 25 July 2009, from http://www.tngenweb.org/campbell/hist-bogan/WW2Women.html Documents from the National Archives, Women in Industry World War II, Retrieved 25 July 2009, from http://www.arts.gla.ac.uk/CAS/HISTORY/AmericaLevel2/Women/women.htm Employers praised them. Rosie the Riveter: Women Working During World War II. Retrieved 25 July 2009, from http://www.nps.gov/pwro/collection/website/praise.htm Lind Amy, & Stephanie, Brzuzy. (2008). Battleground. (pp.80-81). Greenwood Publishing Group, 2008 Propaganda campaign, Rosie the Riveter: Women Working During World War II. Retrieved 25 July 2009, from http://www.nps.gov/pwro/collection/website/propaganda.htm Rosie the Riveter: Women Working During World War II Retrieved 25 July 2009, from http://www.nps.gov/pwro/collection/website/delana.htm Rose, R., Elizabeth. (1999). A mother's job: the history of day care, 1890-1960. Oxford. University Press US. Wo, Women’s Liberation Movement. Retrieved 25 July 2009, from http://www.marxists.org/glossary/events/w/o.htm Read More