Women on the American Home Front: A Look at the Changing
Lifestyles and Varying Roles of Women During World War II
Although wars fought by the United States have seen significant contributions from American women, many scholars regard World War II as a liberating war for women on the home front, as it marked the first time in history that the government started a formal recruitment of females to join the workforce and do their part at home (Kaufman, 2002).
Frankie Cooper, a crane operator who worked for American Steel, is quoted as saying, “During the war the morale inside the plants was extremely high. Not just myself, but everybody, gave everything they had. They wanted to do it […] You were all pulling together for one great wat effort” …show more content…
The traditional depiction of Rosie is an image of a women with a bandana in her hair, appearing to be both tough and proud, flashing muscle, and saying, “We Can Do It!” (National Women’s, 2007). Posters of Rosie produced during World War II often “reflected back to women an idealized image of themselves”, urging women to take glamorized positions in factories across the United States (Binns, 2007, p. 3).
These posters boosted the workforce and featured heartening and obligating messages, attempting to persuade the men in working women’s lives to be proud of their patriotism, work ethic, and commitment to the war effort (National Women’s, 2007). Rosie the Riveter quickly became a female protagonist in the story of the home front, and is often accredited for recruiting a multitude of women for industrial positions (National Women’s, …show more content…
Many Americans feared that a bombing by the Germans or Japanese on the mainland would occur, and with a large bulk of medically trained men serving overseas, there was a high demand for women to receive emergency training. Women were given the opportunity to train as ambulance drivers and fireman, as well as learn emergency medical procedures. The American Women’s Voluntary Services was the largest organization at the time who enrolled and provided training for women (National Women’s,
Lifestyles and Varying Roles of Women During World War II
Although wars fought by the United States have seen significant contributions from American women, many scholars regard World War II as a liberating war for women on the home front, as it marked the first time in history that the government started a formal recruitment of females to join the workforce and do their part at home (Kaufman, 2002).
Frankie Cooper, a crane operator who worked for American Steel, is quoted as saying, “During the war the morale inside the plants was extremely high. Not just myself, but everybody, gave everything they had. They wanted to do it […] You were all pulling together for one great wat effort” …show more content…
The traditional depiction of Rosie is an image of a women with a bandana in her hair, appearing to be both tough and proud, flashing muscle, and saying, “We Can Do It!” (National Women’s, 2007). Posters of Rosie produced during World War II often “reflected back to women an idealized image of themselves”, urging women to take glamorized positions in factories across the United States (Binns, 2007, p. 3).
These posters boosted the workforce and featured heartening and obligating messages, attempting to persuade the men in working women’s lives to be proud of their patriotism, work ethic, and commitment to the war effort (National Women’s, 2007). Rosie the Riveter quickly became a female protagonist in the story of the home front, and is often accredited for recruiting a multitude of women for industrial positions (National Women’s, …show more content…
Many Americans feared that a bombing by the Germans or Japanese on the mainland would occur, and with a large bulk of medically trained men serving overseas, there was a high demand for women to receive emergency training. Women were given the opportunity to train as ambulance drivers and fireman, as well as learn emergency medical procedures. The American Women’s Voluntary Services was the largest organization at the time who enrolled and provided training for women (National Women’s,