Effects of WWII on the  Role of Women

DIRECTIONS:  Read the historical background, view each document, and answer the questions that follow the document on the Answer Sheet. 

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:
More than 15 million American men and women served in the military during World War II. Women joined all the armed services. Although, women were not allowed in combat, many served as pilots and nurses close to the front. Factories shifted from making consumer goods to making guns, ships, aircraft, and other materials needed to win the war. Women responded to the urgent demand for their labor. Almost 5 million women entered the work force. Women received better pay and working conditions. They replaced men who joined the armed services.

Artist: J. Howard Miller, Westinghouse War Production  Coordinating Committee.

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. View all the recruiting posters at Recruiting Posters for Women from World War II  and list all the jobs performed by women in the armed services.

5. Read and view posters at It's a Women's War, Too! Why was the US government waging a publicity campaign to get women to work in the factories?

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 Directions

• Write a well organized essay that includes a strong introduction, body (topic and closing sentence for each paragraph), and conclusion that analyzes and interprets the assigned task Follow the RUBRIC when writing your report

• Use the information from the documents and the answers to the questions to support your response

• Do not simply repeat the contents of the documents

• Include details, examples or reasons to develop your ideas

• Utilize specific related outside information (your knowledge of social studies)

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?