Ww 2 Could Not Have Been Won Without the Help of Women Workers

Prior to World War II, women played the role of the happy housewife, which changed during the second world war, as it was discovered that women could be of use in the winning of the war. The creation of the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps would spark the beginning of women’s involvement in the war. The U.S. could not have adequately helped the allies win World War II without the help of American women. Their eagerness and drive to help do the jobs that men couldn’t while away at war greatly affected the war effort.

World War II began with the German invasion of Poland in September 1939, and the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese on December 7, 1941 would pull the United States into the war. As a result of all of the men going overseas to fight, there was a lack of workers, and because of rationing and food shortages, the average housewife had to take on a new role as the leader and provider for the home. In doing this, she took advantage of the job opportunities that the war industry gave.

Before the war, women were looked down upon for working because it was perceived that she was taking jobs away from able bodied men. Information from a 1936 gallup poll tells us that 82% percent of respondents felt that married women should not work if their husbands had jobs.(Hall, Orzada,Lopez-Gydosh, 234) If women did choose to work, it was “feminine” employment, like teaching, or being a secretary.(234)

So with majority of the population believing that women should not work, it was a shock to see propaganda for women to do their part in the war effort during the 1940’s. Prior to the war, military service for women was limited to the army or navy nurse corps. Although women were encouraged to enter the workforce and enlist in military organizations, it was made clear that this was a temporary situation. Women were constantly reminded of their second class citizenship. They were recruited for the purpose of releasing men from doing non combat jobs, so they could be used for more masculine tasks. (Campbell,137)

Being entered into the military just to free men made women seem inferior to men, but nonetheless, women flocked to enlist. In March 1942, congress passed the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps Act, allowing women to have partial military status for the first time. (Campbell,20) In one day, 13,000 women applied for only 450 offered slots as WAAC officers. (Weatherford, 33) This demonstrated the will and drive for women to do their service in helping the war effort, as well as the fact that women just may be unhappy with their solitary lives as housewives. One WAAC wrote, “Girls and women stop me all the time to ask if I think they should enlist, before I can give my carefully prepared little answer, they launch into a discussion of what they know about the WAACs, and how their families feel, and what their general attitude towards the war is. Walking down the street has become a great adventure.” (33)

Women were a vital part in winning the war because they had just as much to offer as men, and many of the same capabilities. In order to enlist in the WAVES(Women Accepted For Volunteer Emergency Service), a candidate must have completed a college degree, or two years of college plus at least two years of work relating to naval jobs. Women who majored in engineering, business stats, foreign languages, electronics, physics, and mathematics were especially wanted. All women applying for any military service were also required to be older than the age that men could enlist, usually at least