What did womens rights have to do with World War 2?

Answer 1

When the U.S. entered WW II, there was a shortage of men to work in factories and other essential manufacturing and services on the home front because so many men volunteered or were drafted into military service. Consequently, women had to come out of their homes and take over jobs that were traditionally held by men.

When the war ended and the men returned home, they expected the women to simply return to their homes as well and resume their domestic responsibilities. However, many women had taken great satisfaction in their wartime careers in the factories and elsewhere, and they resented having to give up their jobs to men. They now had work skills and knowledge, and it felt good to bring home a real paycheck.

Women as a group had gotten a taste of independence, and they liked it. They began questioning the status quo; asserting their legal rights; flexing their political power. The courts upheld the rights of women to be treated equitably in the workplace and in educational settings.

Today, more than fifty percent of all homes have two incomes with the husband and wife working outside the home. Some argue that this has been a major contributor to the breakdown of the traditional nuclear family, higher divorce rates, and increased juvenile delinquency.

All of this can be traced back to an unanticipated consequence of World War II.