World War IIs Impact on American Women

Before World War II What were some of the attitudes that men had about women in the workforce?
Some felt that women should only have access to jobs that men didnt want, while others didnt want women working at all. Since many were expected to be at home, typically the only jobs open to women were secretarial or nursing. Before the war their role in the military was limited to nursing, and only around 1,000 women were in the armed forces. Women were typically paid 50% less than their male counterparts.

During World War II

Due to the shortage of male workers, most men supported women entering the workforce as their part in the war effort at home. Professions such as electricians, welders, and riveters that had previously been male only, opened up to women during the war. During the war, new positions opened up to women such as service pilots, and the numbers of women in the armed forces grew to 288,000. In some positions women received equal pay for equal work, though in others they experienced income disparity of pre-war proportions.

After World War II

Many women were expected to leave the workforce in order to provide jobs for the soldiers returning home. Though slow and gradual in change, eventually more and more professions opened up for women in the following decades. Though many returned to civilian life after the war, in 1948 Congress established the Womens Army Corps as a permanent part of the US Army. Women experienced income disparity once again, though over the following decades the gap would begin to close in some professions.

What were the professions that were open to women?

What role did women play in the military?

How did the pay women received compare to that of men?