The Overlooked Significance of Women in WWII
When World War II started, more and more men had to leave their jobs to fight in the war. As a result, many women had to fill the vacant jobs that were usually run by men. However, this isn’t the first time women had jobs outside of the household as most people assume. Nearly one-fourth of women worked outside the household, however these jobs were traditionally female occupations such as typing or sewing (Khan academy, n.d.). Five million women joined the workforce between 1940 1945, also 350,000 women served in the armed forces during World War II (Khan academy).
Women that joined the armed forces didn’t actually fight in the war. They worked to supply things such as ammo, weapons, uniforms and medical …show more content…
Peggy Terry, worked at a plant filling artillery shells with powder and remembered: “Our hair was streaked with orange.” “Our hands, face, neck, and even our eye balls turned orange” (Brock, Dickey, Harker, & Lewis). “We never asked whether or not it was harmful. “We simply didn’t think about it, it was just one condition of the job” (Brock, Dickey, Harker, & Lewis). The munitions industry was more likely to hire black women, as racism may have been a factor because these jobs were the most dangerous civilian work, but it’s extra hazard pay meant many black women wanted these jobs (Weatherford, 2009). Defense plants such as these had several fatal explosions as a result (Weatherford, 2009). Another common industry that black women entered was the garment industry (Weatherford, 2009). This was especially likely for companies that manufactured uniforms, tents, and other sewing needs for the military (Weatherford, 2009). Their federal contracts meant they couldn’t openly discriminate, African-American women obtained unionized jobs (Weatherford, 2009). Their numbers increased three-hundred and fifty percent during the war (Weatherford, 2009). When interviewing Mrs. Sudie Britt about
When World War II started, more and more men had to leave their jobs to fight in the war. As a result, many women had to fill the vacant jobs that were usually run by men. However, this isn’t the first time women had jobs outside of the household as most people assume. Nearly one-fourth of women worked outside the household, however these jobs were traditionally female occupations such as typing or sewing (Khan academy, n.d.). Five million women joined the workforce between 1940 1945, also 350,000 women served in the armed forces during World War II (Khan academy).
Women that joined the armed forces didn’t actually fight in the war. They worked to supply things such as ammo, weapons, uniforms and medical …show more content…
Peggy Terry, worked at a plant filling artillery shells with powder and remembered: “Our hair was streaked with orange.” “Our hands, face, neck, and even our eye balls turned orange” (Brock, Dickey, Harker, & Lewis). “We never asked whether or not it was harmful. “We simply didn’t think about it, it was just one condition of the job” (Brock, Dickey, Harker, & Lewis). The munitions industry was more likely to hire black women, as racism may have been a factor because these jobs were the most dangerous civilian work, but it’s extra hazard pay meant many black women wanted these jobs (Weatherford, 2009). Defense plants such as these had several fatal explosions as a result (Weatherford, 2009). Another common industry that black women entered was the garment industry (Weatherford, 2009). This was especially likely for companies that manufactured uniforms, tents, and other sewing needs for the military (Weatherford, 2009). Their federal contracts meant they couldn’t openly discriminate, African-American women obtained unionized jobs (Weatherford, 2009). Their numbers increased three-hundred and fifty percent during the war (Weatherford, 2009). When interviewing Mrs. Sudie Britt about