THE EFFECTS OF WWII
ON THE HOME FRONT
A 5th Grade Social Studies, Language Arts, and DBQ WebQuest 

Effects of WWII on the Role of Women

ANSWER SHEET

1.  Why did women have to enter the work force during WWII?

2.  In the Rosie the Riveter poster, what does ”We can do it!” mean?

3.  Were women just working in the factories? What other jobs did they have to take over for men?

4.  How did the war change women’s fashions?  

5. What do you think happened when the men came back from the war?

6. Read and view the photo at CNN: Rosie the Riveter. Describe the average woman replacing men in the US factories.

7. Read article at "Mommy, What did you do in the war?" What kind of military hardware did women produce?

8. Read Women in Transportation. List some other jobs women performed outside of the factories.

9. In 1940, what percentage of women were working in factories producing durable goods? In 1945?Explain the reason for the increase.

10.  How did the war change women’s fashions?  

11. What do you think happened when the men came back from the war?

CRITICAL THINKING QUESTION

World War II changed the lives of everyone living in the United States. Write an essay explaining how the role of women in America change when the USA entered WWII?