Women's Evolving Roles in American Society During World War II HIS 311 By Katie Boehm

Prior to World War II, women spent most of their time working in the home and taking care of the children. Women who held jobs outside of the home usually worked as teachers, nurses, or secretaries. Although World War I saw an increase in women doing work that was primarily reserved for skilled men, it was World War II that saw a much larger amount of women taking on jobs in a much wider array of fields. World War II placed much demand on the American economy and it was the women who were called to action on the production line since most of the men were off fighting in the war. Women found lots of work in the aviation industry and were involved in every aspect of making planes, including piloting them. There are many pictures, drawings, and paintings that reflect how women's roles in American society changed during the period of World War II.

“Women Aviation Workers under Hair Dryers in Beauty Salon, North American Aviation's Woodworth Plant” by Charles E. Steinheimer, 1942 Photographic print: SteinheimerSteinheimer

“Lathe operator machining parts for transport planes at the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation plant, Fort Worth, Texas” by Howard R. Hollem, 1942 Photographic print: HollemHollem

“Rosie the Riveter Safety Bra”, by Anonymous, 1943 Photographic print: AnonymousAnonymous

“Lightning Lady” by Stan Vosburg Oil painting: VosburgVosburg

“Painting the American insignia on airplane wings is a job that Mrs. Irma Lee McElroy, a former office worker, does with precision and patriotic zeal. Naval Air Base, Corpus Christi, Texas” by Howard R. Hollem, 1942 Photographic print: HollemHollem

“Rosie to the Rescue” by Norman Rockwell, 1943 Drawing: RockwellRockwell

Conclusion The United States experienced radical changes in the 1940s as a result of World War II. With men off to war, it was the women who became responsible for managing the workforces on the home front. They worked jobs that had previously never been open to them in such quantities. The mass hiring of women during World War II allowed women to put their skills to work and allowed them to become proficient in trades that they were learning for the first time. The concept of ‘women’s work versus men’s work’ was completely disregarded during World War II and huge recruitment campaigns attempted to get women to help keep their country’s economy on the right track. By ceasing to discriminate by gender, factories and other skilled labor jobs were able to dramatically reduce the amount of time it took to complete tasks. Once the war ended, men took their jobs back and most women went back to their roles as housewives. Nonetheless, women had affirmed their potential for success in almost every trade, and all of the photographs, drawings, and paintings included in my exhibit reflect this monumental achievement for women during World War II.

References Hollem. (1942). America from the Great Depression to World War II: Color Photographs from the FSA-OWI, Retrieved from ns/timeline/depwwii/wwarii/defense.html ns/timeline/depwwii/wwarii/defense.html Riveter Safety Bra. (1943). Rosie the riveter’s special engineering safety bra Retrieved from Rockwell. (1943). Rosie to the rescue. Retrieved from 4&CID=8E6A43FC3D934B0C888B8E0171BB1CAE&PPID=1&Search=norman%20ro ckwell%20women&f=t&FindID=0&P=1&PP=95&sortby=PD&c=c&page=1http:// 4&CID=8E6A43FC3D934B0C888B8E0171BB1CAE&PPID=1&Search=norman%20ro ckwell%20women&f=t&FindID=0&P=1&PP=95&sortby=PD&c=c&page=1. Steinheimer. (1943). Women aviation workers under hair dryers in beauty salon, North American Aviation's Woodworth plant. Retrieved from Women-aviation-workers-under-hair-dryers-in-beauty-salon-north-american- aviations-woodworth-plant.htm?sorig=cat&sorigid=0&dimvals= &ui= 2F7e2d650bec c82f6e7926c64

References Continued Vosburg. (1943). Lightning lady. Retrieved from avart.org/visitors/exhibit.php.2008