Today is election day, and I considered writing a post about past elections. Then I decided that most of us could use a diversion. I hope you enjoy this post about the impact of WWII on the role of women.
World War II impacted men, women and children in untold number of
ways. When the U.S. entered the war after Pearl Harbor, life as folks knew it
was over. One of the many ways it changed women’s lives was to redefine their
roles in the workplace.
During World War I, the “war to end all wars,” women took
positions vacated by men serving in combat. When the conflict was over they
returned to their homes and readjusted to lives as wives and mothers. If
statistics and reports are to be believed, they were happy to do so.
Less than twenty-five years later, women again took jobs available
because of departing service men. However, this time many of the women fought
for the opportunity to keep their jobs when the hostilities ceased and the men
came home. They also fought for the opportunity to join unions and receive
equal pay for equal work.
Another way the war changed women’s lives was through education.
Prior to the war, hosts of women attended college and earned degrees, but there
was limited access to jobs in which they could apply the degree. Thanks to
WWII, employees (read men) with higher education were overseas fighting.
Therefore, employers turned to degreed women to fill their needs. They were
pleasantly surprised to discover the women were more than qualified to get the
job done.
The third way the war changed women’s lives was the chance to join
the military and military auxiliary services. Women were generally not allowed
in combat situations, but some jobs took them close to the front, such as the
Army and Navy medical corps.
I have always had a career. Even before I left college with a
Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, I knew I wanted a job that would challenge and
excite me, a job for which I would be paid an equitable salary. I don’t think I
would have had that if it weren’t for those women who went before me to pave
the way.
Is there a special woman in your life who paved the way for you?
Not in the working world....my mom was a great example of a stay at home mother.
ReplyDeleteThis was a really interesting post. I admire the women who stepped out into the working world. Thanks for sharing.
There was a special lady that was part of my life in so many instances. I knew her as the mother of a high school friend, she was a member of the church I started attending as a young bride and she was instrumental in hiring me at the public library where she was director. She remained my friend until she passed this past August.
ReplyDeleteMy mother was a stay at home mother. Informative post about women who made a difference during a difficult time in America. My mother and maternal grandmother encouraged throughout life to be all that God had called me to be.
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