Women during WWII Flashcards
How were opportunities created for women?
During war women were needed in factories and workshops with propaganda showing there were opportunities and responsibilities for women. A Women’s Advisory Committee advised on utilising women.
What was the impact of war for women in politics?
Women in state legislatures rose from 144 to 228 and women worked in more skilled jobs and roles in Congress.
How did employment increase including participation in uniformed groups?
Female working force rose from 6-8 million and 350,000 participated in uniformed groups such as Army Auxilary Corps and Women’s Reserve. Motivated by Rosie the Riveter.
How many employed in total by 1945, how many due to WWII specifically?
19 million employed in 1945, half girls who left high school and would have been employed any way. 2.7-3.5 million employed for war.
Why were most women not like Rosie the Riveter?
Most women not riveters as employers reluctant to give training. 10% of women employed in defence plants and 4% in skilled jobs of this percent. Most clerical and service workers.
What were limitations to getting married mothers in work? What was the war’s impact on family?
By 1944 most working women were over 35 and already raised children. Working mothers rose from 9-12% and government set 31 daycare centres but limited impact. By 1943 the baby boom had started and marriage age was at all time low by 1945 with higher value of family and children.
What were limits of women gaining equal employment standing to men?
- Women unable to be part of wartime decisions.
- Men still dominated government agencies – ND practise.
- Unequal pay.
What were limits to married and working class women?
- Women unable to access childcare and cheap restaurants/canteens that British working women had. Divided movement as conservative women’s groups didn’t support this.
- Working class women received hostility from blue collar male workers who saw their jobs being threatened.
What were limits to minority women?
- National Council of Negro Women set but women consulted little with African American women and there was little opportunity for them to take managerial roles.
- Harsh treatment of Japanese American women.
What was stagnation after war?
Stagnation – increased economic opportunity prevented women from targeting social issues and they were pushed to raise families in the suburbs during this time of prosperity and labour saving technology.
How many were removed from jobs and what adversity did they face?
By the end of 1946 2 million fired from heavy industry and 800,000 lost jobs within 2 months of Japanese defeat. Women workers didn’t all return home but between 1945-60 pay gap increased and lower roles were accepted.
How could some women obtain jobs?
. Some could only flirt to get jobs with rise of sexual exploitation. Still concentration of women in nursing, teaching, and social work.
What was WWII impact on African American women?
African Americans had even greater wage differential and political discrimination linked with economic discrimination. But African Americans participated in Civil Rights such as Rosa Parks from Montgomery protest 1955 and Elizabeth Eckford at Little Rock 1957.
