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How Did Women's Opportunity For Women During World War II

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How Did Women's Opportunity For Women During World War II
As the Great Depression ended, World War II emerged and so did women's opportunity to work. Patriotism for women consisted of joining the Red Cross and the idea of “Rosie the Riveter” was born. Activities that were once forbidden for women are now acceptable and patriotic. World War II was a crucial time for women because it opened the door to countless opportunities for them to become more independent, join unions and fight for their rights. In the 1930’s, 25 percent of Americans were unemployed, but now jobs were hiring rapidly. By 1942, with the men going away to war the only way the jobs could be fulfilled was to hire women. The employment rate was only 29-55 percent because men would quit and walk out of the factories exclaiming that they could not work beside women. It was hard for women to get hired, but no one could stop them from volunteering. Three million women volunteered for the Red Cross. They drove ambulances, spotted airplanes for the civil defense, served food and entertained soldiers at USO canteens, sold war bonds, and organized domestic tasks for the needs of the economy for materials. Women demanded to be …show more content…
Factories would not rehire women back, they were being forced out. The Women's Bureau held a conference to discuss the postwar situation. They wanted equal opportunities and equal pay, but the wage gap increased. The employment rate went from 25 percent to 7.5 percent. Women fought back with picket lines. Unions did not support these acts and blamed the women for their situation. Women left the labor force by the millions and the ones that stayed faced discrimination and sexual harassment.
Some may say World War II had little progress for women in the end but they are wrong because the war did remove some legal and cultural obstacles. For example, married women were now allowed to be teachers and in eleven states equal pay equal work was
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