What effect did world war 2 have on women in America?

Answer 1

Women began to do the jobs that the men used to do. They worked in factories, steel mills, and on fighter planes. A woman who worked in an industrial or manufacturing job was refered to as "Rosie the Riviter". More independent, less willing to lose their new gained power, managed America when men were at war.

Also set new standards of female participation in Wars, pilots, shippers and nurses. Women married earlier in life, had more children and relied much less on their husbands after the war. The divorce rate in the United States and Britain skyrocketed, compared to previous years. Women held higher paying jobs than in pre-war years, and this caused some conflict when men were discharged from the military and wanted their old jobs back, which were now held by women.

Women went into the workplace and never looked back. They took over factory jobs, drove trucks, flew military aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean to England, and numerous other jobs that had traditionaly been open only to men. Once the men returned from the war the women were more independent than ever and would never be content to sit at home again. Women played the role of helping fabricate weapons and bombs and all the equipment the soldiers would need.

Women never set foot on the battle field but they also were nurses and assistants and that helped alot since they needed medical treatments The above answer about women " never setting foot on the battlefield" is dead wrong.

Canadian Army nurses were about 5 to 8 miles behind the front lines in Italy, and later in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. They worked in advanced aid stations and advanced medical care stations, and DOZENS of them were killed by enemy fire. They assisted in the operating rooms, and were trained as "gas passers" or anesthetic nurses, as well as x-ray techs, and cast techs.

Many other nursing sisters were lost in ship sinkings on the passage to Europe, when their ships were sunk by U-boats. They were just as dead as any one else. During WWII it was womens time to shine. Their men were gone fighting on the frontlines while they were left to fight on the honefront. It was up to women and their long hours spent in war factories and their scarafices that ensure American Soldiers the necessary euipment to achieve victory. Thank You ladies for all you did for our country and thank you soldiers for giving it all. God Bless

It is important to note that while during the war women did amazing work in the factories and service in all branches of the military, the post-war conditions for women did not reflect all that it might seem they should have gained. The late 40s and 50s saw an almost complete reversion to previous gender norms. Among other effects, women typically were replaced by men in the factories and the ideal of stay-at-home domesticity gained even more strength (bolstered by the strength of the U.S. economy at the time). While divorce rates skyrocketed, indicating the beginning of greater gender autonomy, it wasn't until the 1960s that any real, tangible change could be seen for women beyond a few specific Demographics.

Answer 2

Women were very important to the nation's morale, and they participated in the war effort both directly and indirectly. While women were not allowed to fight, there were women who served as military nurses, and women pilots who ferried supplies to the troops. Women also were members of auxiliary forces like the WACs (Women's Army Corps), performing clerical and support functions so that the men could be freed up to go into combat. Further, women distinguished themselves by taking over many jobs previously held by men-- women worked on assembly lines making cars, building airplanes, assembling parachutes, and doing other essential work to help the war effort-- a character called "Rosie the Riveter" was based on a real woman who worked in a factory that made the military planes, and she really did apply the rivets.

At home, all women (but housewives especially) participated in the war effort by willingly accepting the government's need to ration food; homemakers became adept at creating healthy meals while doing without certain products that were needed by the troops. Women entertainers, especially vocalist Kate Smith, volunteered their time to do free shows for the troops, and many women worked tirelessly to raise money for the war effort, by getting the public to buy war bonds. Also, women performers provided the nation with much needed escape from worrying about their men fighting overseas.

As for how the war affected women, millions of them had husbands or brothers or even fathers who were sent to fight. It was a very difficult time for these women-- they wanted to support the war, yet they worried that their family member might not come back. My own mother, who had recently married just before the war broke out, did not know if my father (her husband) was dead or alive for many months. In our internet and Skype world, it is easy to keep in touch, but back then, such technologies did not exist, and soldiers on the battlefield in Europe were generally not able to write letters regularly. So, the women at home relied upon the news on radio and in magazines and newspapers. Those who worked did their best to keep focused on the goal of helping the nation, and those who were at home did their best to keep their families strong while hoping and praying that the war would soon be over.