Western Women in World War Two

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Women before World War Two
Employment
Women during World War Two
Rosie the Riveter
Women after World War Two
Conclusion
Bibliography
Footnotes

Introduction

World War Two had huge impact on the roles and participation of women in western societies. Women were seen as home-makers and nurturers before the war and were discouraged to work. Married women remained at home to perform traditional duties as wives and mothers.

These beliefs affected their role in the society and national involvement, such as decision-making where they were left out. Men took all the employment opportunities and only unmarried women were allowed to work on condition that they will leave the work immediately after getting married.

Shortage of workers in production industries and participation of men in the war led to the increase of women in labor force. The government requested women to take part in the workforce and frequently reminded them that their sons, husbands, and brothers were in great danger due to the shortage of supplies needed to fight their enemies.

They used several slogans and misinformation to motivate and urge women to participate in protecting their country. The strategy of ‘Rosie the Riveter’ worked successfully in bringing women to take jobs¹. Employers and other people believed that their jobs were temporary and should only be assigned specific low paid jobs.

After the war, most women continued working in their jobs regardless of the opposition from their men. People considered that they should leave their jobs and resume their traditional duties at home. However, employers appreciated their efforts, but they set a lower pay for women compared with men with the same or comparable jobs.

The efforts of women and their involvement in World War Two had a great influence on the future of women in societies. Modern women were born through the participation and success of women during the war. Inequality and discrimination are fading and women have been considered in most opportunities at work.

This paper discusses the roles of women before, during, and after the war. It focuses mostly on the beliefs and employment opportunities which were created during World War Two.

Women before World War Two

Women’s role

Before World War Two, it was normally accepted that the responsibilities of women were as home-makers and nurturers. Many believed in women’s destinity to get married, have children and to give over their lives to satisfy their husbands, children, and society. This was caused by traditional beliefs that women were unable to lead any other kind of life apart from what they are assigned by their traditions.

These beliefs affected most women all over the world, including western women. Those women who went against these beliefs were considered immoral and may be rejected in their community².

Most people believed that if a woman chooses to look for employment while she is married or unmarried, she is considered careless, immoral, lax, and disrespectful to the community and to her husband and children. This was much felt in Australia and women were supposed to populate the nation for its economy safety and welfare.

Women were also considered the defenders of morality among children since they were mostly in contact with children and therefore they were the major influence on the future generations through acting as role model to the young people. Therefore, women were not provided the permissible status as protectors of their offspring.

The laws governing divorce and marriage supported men more than women, mostly relative to custody of children and possession, and men’s opinions were given first priority since women’s opinions were considered less important. These are the kinds of injustices that had motivated most women to participate in the first wave of feminism.

Employment

These cases of marriages allowed only unmarried women to look for employment and abandoned their jobs immediately after marrying. Upper class and middle class husbands were capable of supporting their wives and families and this support would lead them to take part in public life, in a sense, by humanitarian jobs. Some of these women became somewhat dynamic in the society through these ways, mainly during World War One³.

The reason they participated in World War Two was not only because they were not employed, but also because they were free from their household chores since they were capable of hiring domestic assistants and nannies.

Most unfortunate women had to take both domestic jobs and employment, which was very difficult just then since labor-saving tools like washing machine systems and appliances were just accessible to privileged women. Unfavorable working conditions also showed that big population of men died or injured in job-related disasters hence no longer provide for their families.

The burdens in which beliefs placed on western women were higher than that were placed on their men due to two main reasons. The first reason was that western women were paid minimal wage which was much below the men’s payment.

The second reason was that women were only allowed certain jobs. The approach that women were mainly nurturers affected the job they were permitted to assume⁴. Most western women engaged in domestic service, teaching, clerks, secretaries, nursing, and other ‘nurturing’ jobs.

Women during World War Two

The demand placed on some western countries, such as America, by the war machine was huge. The only means to win the war was to involve large population of women in employment since millions of men were at war and the rest of the male population was not enough to occupy the existing jobs.

America favored women to take part in the remaining jobs, such as building the planes, ships, and tanks, required to be used in the war. World War Two, unlike any other historic battle, was based on quality of production and the only solution was to engage American women in production and supply of war equipment⁵.

Therefore, western countries worked together with women’s organizations, media, and industry in an attempt to request them to take part in labor force. The main aim was to inform women that it was their loyal responsibility to participate in available occupations. However, devotion to the nation was not the only reason that the War Manpower Commission employed to bring women into the labor force.

The strategy for many employment programs employed the idea of raised economic success to draw women into the labor force. Actually, some notices went so far as to glamorize war jobs and spread the significance of women participating in other jobs rather than domestic work.

Due to the misinformation provided to them, American women, whether social contact, economic benefits, loyalty, or country’s needs forced them, participated in the labor force at higher rate than ever seen earlier. In mid 1944, when World War Two was at its climax, above 20 million women were recruited in America and this recorded the highest number of women than ever before ⁶.

Application for employment was quite easy than it was expected during this war period. While their men were fighting for human rights and equality overseas, western women were experiencing inequality and discrimination at their country.

Although women were turning out for employment at higher rates than before, several firms declined to recruit women, while other firms fixed unjustly low recruitment allocation for women. Other employers recruited women, but declined to provide them with jobs formerly occupied by men. These processes made women to feel confused about the way western countries wanted their women to conduct themselves.

Although several women were recruited, they were not essentially treated the same as their men in the same positions. In 1942, the National War Labor Board (NWLB) tried to eliminate some of the deep-rooted injustices and discrimination in the payments of women, when they chose to implement uniform pay policies⁷. However, these principles were randomly implemented because many employers had different views about women.

They reasoned that jobs that women were doing were easier. Women who participated in the workforce due to World War Two were usually called ‘production soldiers’ and their total hours in the week were 48 hours, although most women worked overtime. Sunday was the only holiday and most leaves and holidays were withdrawn. The employment opportunities for women during the war were seen as temporary opportunity which will be declined after the war.

Rosie the Riveter

While women were recruited in various positions formerly unavailable to them, the aviation industry experienced the highest increase in female employees. Above 300,000 female employees were recruited in the United States’ aircraft industry in 1943, which was around 60% of the labor force in the industry, matched up with only one percent before World War Two ⁸.

The munition industry as well greatly hired female employees, as represented by the United States authority’s ‘Rosie the Riveter’ misinformation movement. The country was experiencing shortage of workers since men were participating in the war and more war supplies were needed to be produced. They urged and motivated women to take part in the nation building by getting a job.

The misinformation provided by the authority used emotional request along with patriotism to win women’s attention. Women were frequently being reminded that their men, brothers, and sons were experiencing huge risks since they were facing shortage of supplies they required in the war.

They used slogans such as “Women the war needs you,” “We can do it,” and “Victory is in your Hands” to influence western women that their national needs were significant than their personal needs. Derived from small part on a daily life munitions employee, but mainly an untrue character, the effective and powerful ‘Rosie the Riveter’ became one of the most effective enrollment devices in the American history and the greatest iconic reflection of the employed women during the war.

The promotion of ‘Rosie the Riveter,’ as the principle women, was based on the ideas of loyalty, patriotism, competent, and pretty, and it becomes very famous in 1942⁹. In the end, it became apparent that married women were required although nobody wanted women to work, particularly if they had young kids. It was difficult to hire married women and even though they wished to be employed, their husbands did not like them to.

While patriotism did pressure western women, eventually it was the economic motivations that drove them to work. While working, they discovered the non-material advantages of working, such as acquiring new skills, proving their skills and competent to their men, and participating in the public development¹⁰.

Women after World War Two

During World War Two, most women enjoyed working, but other women experienced some inconveniences brought about by employment. Most women decided to save the income they received during their employment period. Because of war period shortages and long working hours, there was no much expenses and women were reminded to purchase war gears. When women took part in their previous male jobs, the major issue was transforming attitudes of men against women¹¹.

Male labor unions and employees were doubtful of women and most employers considered the desires and needs of women on the job as less important as needs of men. Therefore, they did consider them serious or provided much consideration.

This affected women in their workplaces since companies refused to promote women to powerful positions and leaving them out from the decision-making course. After the war, women wanted to be considered like their male employees and not provided particular consideration only because they were women and equality must be exercised.

More and more women were recruited in labor force after the war and attitudes of men towards women changed and employers honored them. The image of women as mother and wives was not changed after World War Two, although they willingly and heavily contributed to the safety of the country during the war.

Mainstream community recognized temporary changes caused by the war, but believed that they are disagreeable on a permanent perspective. Men and employers informed women that their best asset was their capability to look after their homes and that employed women would be unlucky while looking for husband.

After the war, cultural division of work based on gender reasserted and many women remained in their jobs, but companies maintained lower pay for women. Many women were jobless and were reminded to return to their families to perform their usual duties.

During World War Two, women’s image changed, but it appears as temporary and superficial, and the truth was that most women went back to their traditional domestic roles during the success of the 1950s. The contribution and decision followed by western women in the labor force during the war influenced their role and participation in this modern society. Society has changed and men’s attitudes towards women have greatly changed.

Women have been allocated job opportunities in their society and their voices are being heard just like men. Equality in our society has improved and women are provided with the roles which were traditionally assigned to men. The modern daughters and mothers are following the successful path initiated by their mothers and grandmothers.

Between 1945 and 1985, the population of women in workforce increased from 30 to 45 percent as women’s workforce involvement rate leaped from 32 to 55 percent¹². These figures would show a transformation in attitudes and approaches that remained long after World War Two. Most people immediately after the war thought that women should abandon their jobs to allow the returning soldiers to assume their previous jobs.

By the end of the war, women were included completely into the national army, even though they were mainly restricted to mostly clerical duties, such as office messengers, secretaries, clerks, and typists, and were just 2% of the labor force¹³.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the war influenced the modern trend toward a raise in the women workforce and the war brought in married women to employment sector. However, more women were almost certainly to leave the labor force after the war due to inconveniences and pressures from their men to resume traditional roles as wives and mothers.

Most women before the war were considered nurturers and home-makers and should not take any position in the employment sector. Married women were not allowed to get jobs and unmarried women were supposed to abandon their jobs immediately after marrying to take the responsibility of mothers and wives. The war brought huge impact on women’s participation in the society. The government used various ways to motivate women to participate.

High rate of women turned out for jobs and this led women to understand the importance of getting a job. After the World War Two, men urged women to leave their jobs and resume their traditional jobs. Men attitudes and equality towards women have changed. The participation of women in World War Two and immediately after the war gave birth to their participation of women after and in the current society.

Women are participating in the development and employment in modern society. Although inequality and discrimination among women are experienced in modern society during recruitment and wages policies, these issues have changed positively matched up with the conditions before, during, and immediately after the war.

Bibliography

Goldin, Claudia. “The Role of World War II in the Rise of Women’s Employment.” The American Economic Review 81, no. 4 (2001): 741-756.

Hurt, Douglas. The Great Plains during World War II. New York, NY: U of Nebraska Press, 2008.

Sonya, Rose. “Sex, Citizenship, and the Nation in World War II Britain.” The American Historical Review 103, no. 4 (1998): 1147-1176.

Weatherford, Doris. American Women And World War II. New York, NY: Book Sales, 2009.

Footnotes

¹ Claudia Gildon, “The Role of World War II in the Rise of Women’s Employment,” The American Economic Review 81, no. 4 (2001): 744.

² Douglas Hurt, The Great Plains during World War II (New York, NY: U of Nebraska Press, 2008), 83.

³ Doris Weatherford, American Women And World War II (New York, NY: Book Sales, 2009), 34.

⁴ Rose Sonya, “Sex, Citizenship, and the Nation in World War II Britain,” The American Historical Review 103, no. 4 (1998): 1156.

⁵ Douglas Hurt, The Great Plains during World War II (New York, NY: U of Nebraska Press, 2008), 83.

⁶ Rose Sonya, “Sex, Citizenship, and the Nation in World War II Britain,” The American Historical Review 103, no. 4 (1998): 1156.

⁷ Claudia Gildon, “The Role of World War II in the Rise of Women’s Employment,” The American Economic Review 81, no. 4 (2001): 744.

⁸ Claudia Gildon, “The Role of World War II in the Rise of Women’s Employment,” The American Economic Review 81, no. 4 (2001): 744.

⁹ Doris Weatherford, American Women And World War II (New York, NY: Book Sales, 2009), 34.

¹⁰ Douglas Hurt, The Great Plains during World War II (New York, NY: U of Nebraska Press, 2008), 83.

¹¹ Claudia Gildon, “The Role of World War II in the Rise of Women’s Employment,” The American Economic Review 81, no. 4 (2001): 744.

¹² Doris Weatherford, American Women And World War II (New York, NY: Book Sales, 2009), 34.

¹³ Claudia Gildon, “The Role of World War II in the Rise of Women’s Employment,” The American Economic Review 81, no. 4 (2001): 744.

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