Women's Roles In The 1940s Essay

Ever since the beginning, women have been downgraded. Many people ask the question why? Well, many people have thought that women cannot do the things that men can. Which later proves to not be true at all, as women believed they can do anything they put their minds to. With America's involvement in World War II, there was a change to women's roles. Women at the time may have not seen it but they were planting the seeds for the rebirth of feminism in the 1940s. (Writer, Leaf Group. “Feminism During the 1940s.” )
In the year 1942, women were not allowed to serve in the military except as nurses and during that time approximately 350,000 women served during the war (Writer, Leaf Group. “Feminism During the 1940s”). Each branch of the service had its women’s auxiliary consisting of the Women’s Army Corps (WACS), the Navy Women’s Reserve (WAVES), the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve (SPARS), the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve and the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) (“Societal Roles and Expectations through the 1940's-50's.”). Soon after, women were starting to replace men in certain jobs. For example, holding the positions as office workers and gunnery instructors. In addition, many trained new pilots, flew transport planes and also
repaired equipment. This gave women a great amount of pride as they finally felt useful to society (Writer, Leaf Group. “Feminism During the 1940s”).
During the war effort women were crucial, especially in factories.
The image of Rosie the Riveter saying “We can do it!”, symbolized that women were recruited to fill critical jobs in the defense industry. With women working, they felt important and that they were being valued. However, it was not always easy, as many experienced discrimination from factory owners, who reclassified their jobs as lower-paying, “female” jobs. Many women then started to become active in labor unions. After the war, men came back to reclaim “their” jobs; some women were happy about returning to the kitchen. While others continued their union work and later transitioned to women's organizations (Writer, Leaf Group. “Feminism During the
1940s”).
In 1942, Pittsburgh artist J. Howard Miller was hired by the Westinghouse Company’s War Production Coordinating Committee to create a series of posters to motivate employees for the war effort. One of the famous posters was “We can do it!”. Originally, “ Rosie” never intended to be a part of the poster and she was not even in Millers image. Years later the poster was rediscovered in 1982, which is when it became associated with “Rosie the Riveter” and more importantly women's liberation and other causes ( J.D. “The Pop History Dig.” ).
Another iconic symbol for women's rights was Norman Rockwell’s version of Rosie. His illustration was of Rosie on her lunch break, eating a sandwich from her lap, with an opened lunch pail as her riveting gun rests on her lap. In addition, to an American flag waving behind her and Rosie gazing off into the distance. Overall, both were symbols for women’s rights struggles and were occasionally used for other political campaigns as well (J.D.“The Pop History Dig.” ).
Women then responded to the call to work. Half of the women who took war jobs were minority and lower-class women who were already in the workforce. They even switched from lower-paying traditionally female jobs to higher-paying factory jobs. Yet, they still needed a lot more women, so they recruited women just graduating from high school. Later on they were still in need, so they tried recruiting married women even though most of their husbands would not let their wives work, especially if they had younger children. Despite that, some women saved their money they worked for and due to the shortages and long working hours there was not much to spend money on. Although, as time went on more and more women entered the workforce (“Women At Work • The 1940's • 1940-1949 • Fashion History Movies Music”).
One last inspiration to most women, was First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. She was a major part of Roosevelt's presidency as she was his chief campaign asset and even after her husband's death she planned on retiring. Instead, President Truman needed her as an adviser and an ad hoc diplomat. Here she put in a lot of work with women’s organizations leading women to view her as a role model during the post-war period as she changed their lives back to being homemakers. Many women followed her writings in women’s magazines and listened to her weekly radio program (Writer, Leaf Group. “Feminism During the 1940s.”). A familiar quote of the time was, “ In numbers there is strength, and we in America must help the women of the world.” - Eleanor Roosevelt (Higgins, Marissa. “8 Feminist Quotes From The 1940s That Are Still Relevant Today.”).
This affected 1940s in many different ways. It was hard because all women wanted was what men had. They did not think they were not asking for a lot, as everyone wants to be treated the same. The biggest issues fought by having protests and holding meetings was how women were treated and the difference in pay. Additionally, they added in the opinions of women who did work, saying felt like they had self value and were useful for once instead of just staying at home and being a wife. With everything women were doing it really grabbed a lot of people's attention causing people to start thinking differently.
In conclusion, the women then paved the way for women today. Although, some men still think differently on the matter it helped women be able to show what they are made of and there is no difference between male and female. It is too bad it took so long for things to start moving and heading in the right direction. Nonetheless, thanks to their persistence, women today are able to vote and fulfill their dreams just like men.