World War II: The Foundation of the

Women’s Movement

Victoria Jiang
MWH, 6th B
WWII Research Paper, Final Draft
30 May 2009
Introduction

Even at the beginning of World War II, a woman’s place had always been at

home, revolving around the home and the family. Still, when women worked their lives

continued to focus on their home and families. This war laid the foundation for women to

prove the equal ability and worth to the world. Society and its traditions has made is

almost impossible for the advancements of women, however the demands of WWII led

women to a new age where tradition’s ideas and roles were set aside, so women

experienced opportunities like never before.

The Opportunity to Participate

Just as there were many men volunteering in the national struggle, there were

women who were willing to contribute as well. Before WWII, there was already a

shortage of nurses, so there was a high demand for them during the war. Women were

glad that there were other career options besides a housewife, since they never really had

any free career choice (Weatherford 125). Women were joining for patriotism more than

money: “...the head tool setter for the idea that we might work on a few Sundays and give

the money to the government. ‘But the girls won’t do it,’ he said, ‘They… only work for

the money’…I asked six girls that evening whether they would or not… They all said

without a moment’s hesitation that they would gladly do it.” The women understood the

urgency of war production and that the war was important. Women never had the chance

to die for their country, at least not at war. They were not even able to show their

patriotism that way. This opportunity meant a great step towards equal rights. Women

were simply overwhelmed by the offer of serving their country, something that was not
allowed before, and something that represented faithfulness, loyalty, and pride; women

got to express their nationalism (Weatherford 179).

The Discrimination of Women in the War

It wasn’t long until women felt that their jobs were too simple, because they often

stayed back serving in the kitchen and doing laundry duties. Some women asked how

perfecting one’s bed could help win the war, but nonetheless, they did it. Even little

details like making the bed meant a great deal (Weatherford 37). For instance, a woman

journalist, who spoke fluent Japanese and had front-line experience, had been hired as a

cook. Highly qualified women were hardly likely to come forward when stories began to

circulate that their skills were misused (Lewis 26). There still existed prejudice in the

military. Some women resigned and returned to civilian life because of the hostility,

disrespect, apathy to their abilities, and scandalous rumors of their sexual tendency

(Lewis 27). Nurses had to pay for their own uniforms, which provided the sensation

women wanted, because the uniforms reminded them that they were part of the war. Men

usually expected women to fulfill the traditional roles of a housewife, cleaning, cooking,

and doing laundry. So it was often difficult for women to break free from the long-time

stereotype. Sometimes the women were caught in flirty situations with the men. Although

women hoped for change, it was still tough to accept/adjust for both sexes (Weatherford

19). There existed recruitment problems from the prejudice of women; however, there

were still job opportunities that paved way for equal rights for women.

Difficulty of Women with War-Jobs

While some of the jobs appeared the same as the ones of a regular housewife,

there is a great difference when working with the military. It was very important for the
nurses to keep the soldiers’ spirits high while they were injured. They were expected to

be warm and inviting for each of the wounded, no matter if they just amputated another

man’s leg or saw someone die (Stein 70). They worked for seven hours a day and are

under the same risks the soldiers are of dying and becoming prisoners of war. Being a

nurse came with a great deal of risks and difficulties; more than a thousand nurses were

hospitalized due to exhaustion (Weatherford 19). The government tried not to reveal the

complexity in being a nurse to the public so that it would not damage the recruitment of

nurses. Work was demanding for all the female roles in the military. There was also a

strong male resistance to the idea of women in war work, but it offered valuable

experience for those who did participate.

The Women at Home

It was especially difficult for the women who stayed back. If a woman worked, it

increased the chances of the husband getting drafted. Still, women had to work to support

the family when the men were gone. People paid much less to hire female workers,

because they knew women were desperate for the money (Anderson 74). When there

were bombings in Britain, people had to escape to the underground. It was the mothers

who suffered the emotional pain while men were at war. Children felt that the war was

somewhat like a game; they were too young to understand the damages. It was the

mothers who had to worry if the house was in crumbs or not. Also, it was the women who

had to deal with the economic crisis back at home. They had to mend patches over

patches of ragged clothes. The money was extremely tight, and there were never

leftovers. At one point, the government’s food distribution was only one egg per week

(Weatherford 36). It was up to the mothers to save as much food, money, and materials as
possible. They carried the responsibility of supporting the family’s lives. Women on the

home front were just as troubled.

Recruitment of Women

Many advertisements were put up to encourage volunteering during WWII.

Posters exemplified the importance of female participants in the national struggle (May

45). Most advertisements depicted women breaking free from the stereotypical gentle

house-wife role by having pictures of women working jobs generally assigned for men

(Stein 56). An influential fictional character like Rosie the Riveter acted as a great

inspiration for women to prove they can do more than clean the house and make babies.

Rosie’s masculinity makes her stand as an equal to men and women were excited

(Strom). Advertisements were empowering for women, thus promoting volunteering.

Women after the War

After the war, practically everything changed back to how it was, except that the

foundation for the women’s movement had been set. The jobs the women had during the

war were immediately taken back by the men when they returned, leaving many single

mothers out of a job. Before the men left to war, they were promised their spot once they

returned (Lewis). Women who got back from the war were changed by the experience.

They notice the importance of little details from the training they received. Once the war

was over, so were the war-time jobs (Strom). It left many women to return home,

expected to fill the traditional female roles again, but women were no longer satisfied by

just that; they wanted more. From then on women had a higher status as workers, wages
that made them independent for the first time, and pride from serving their country

(Lewis 245).

Conclusion

Participating in WWII allowed women to break free from the traditional roles,

proving their abilities. Women wanted to serve their country, and once they were given

the opportunity to do so, they took it. Even after the war, women were left a new

reputation of being stronger and more respectable. Women’s involvement in the war was

essential whether they were working behind the scenes at home, or working with the

soldiers. With the satisfying taste of liberation from traditionally assigned roles, women

could not settle for less. WWII acted as a foundation to the women’s movement toward

equality of the sexes because it was there that women got to prove their equivalent

strengths and abilities.

 Bibliography

*Anderson, Karen. Wartime Women: Sex Roles, family relations, and the status of
women during World War II. Wesport, CT: Greenword Press, 1981. Print.

*Lewis, Brenda Ralph. Women at War The Women of World War II- At home, at Work,
on the Front Line. Pleasantville, NY: Reader's Digest, 2002. Print.

Lewis, Jone Johnson. "Women and World War II." About.com. 07 Jan 2008. 23 May
2009 <http://womenshistory.about.com/od/warwwii/a/overview.htm>.

May, Elaine Tyler. Pushing the Limits . New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1994.
Print.

*Stein, R. Conrad. The Home Front During World War II. Berkley Heights, NJ: Enslow
Publishers, 2003. Print.

Strom, Dr. Sharon H. Hartman . "Women and World War II." What did you do in the
war, grandma?. 19 May 2009. 23 May 2009
<http://www.stg.brown.edu/projects/WWII_Women/WomenInWWII.html>.

*Weatherford, Doris. American Women and World War II. New York, NY: Facts on File,
1990. Print.
*** Ones marked with asterisk means it included primary sources, all of which were
quotations.