Denesia Rollins Mr. McKinney History 134-015 12 March 2012 Analysis Paper #3 The Great Depression and World War II have changed the United States by the Changing Roles for Women. With American men enlisting in the war effort, the work force quickly diminished. Who would "man" the assembly lines in the factories to produce the needed items for the current war? The War marked and important watershed in the women status. With most of the men going into military service, the demand for labor struck up old prejudices about sex roles in the workplace, and the military.
Some women “felt they were needed at home to raise families, crops for food and to fill the jobs that the men had vacated in order to serve their country.”(Suite101) Women’s lives on the home front during World War II were a significant part of the war effort for all participants and had a major impact on the outcome of the war. Once the men went off to war and left their jobs, the women that were single had a great advantage because job opportunities were everywhere. In the other hand married women had a tough time, especially if they had children. Hundreds of women worked in machine shops, welding shops, manufacturing plants, and also worked in war industries to make equipment for the war. New industries, naval, and army bases were being built during the home front.
With the majority of the men gone that usually worked the factories and welding plants the United States needed to keep producing arms, ammunition, and other various equipment for the troops to continue they efforts. Thus women were encouraged by posters such as these showing that they too could help the country in this time of need. Needless to say, a great deal of women stepped up, were trained, and filled jobs that had, until this time, only been filled by men. Rosie the Riveter has made a mark on the American people and most of all the way in which the American woman is seen. Women were once only seen in homes cleaning and cooking and the era of Rosie was the first step in women’s rights.
Some joined the Land Army and others worked in the factories producing weapons. As a result, women became more self-confident and they realized that they could be efficient and skilled workers so some social attitudes towards women changed. When, in 1945 the men returned home after the war had ended and took back their previous jobs, 75% of the women workers returned home. Most men continued their pre-war attitude that women should maintain their traditional role by staying at home and looking after the children. In 1947 when women were asked whether married women should return home, 58% said that women should return to their domestic duties.
The cultural division of labor by sex was going to come to an end. Before the war, mostly every woman was at home cleaning cooking, and caring for children. That all changed when America went to war. The government decided to do a propaganda campaign to sell the importance of war effort and to lure women in. Thus, Rosie the Riveter was born.
Some women worked so long in the factories that they had to move closer to the factory. They got paid well, however men doing the same work as skilled women got paid more. That was not fair for the women. They struggled with discrimination, harassment, and physical pain from long hours and poor working conditions. Once the war was over and the men came home, the women had to give up their jobs and these hard-working women did not want to leave their jobs.
The Role of Women in USA Women have changed from the past 100 years because they used to be housewives now they are saying their own opinions and standing up for themselves. Women are showing great responsibility that they can work as hard as men and get jobs and make it a career. Since men told their wives to cook, clean and take care of the children, women haven't be able to get paid when they apply for a job since 1920's. I believe that women have different qualities to men. Even though men usually get jobs, some women have standards that reach what a company is looking for.
There is even a brief nod to equity theory in this. Some of her peers are also parents but have chosen to hire nannies and continue to work full time. This gives them the advantage at work and creates feelings of inequity in Anna. Drive to Bond: Anna needs to develop the special bond of mother and daughter. Anna also wants to nurture the relationships she worked hard to create with her employer, co-workers and church group.
World War I affected many people during its time of war. WWI was known as the war that ended without any country knowing why it started in the first place. From the mid 1914 to late 1918, the lives of women and men changed for the better. The war impacted the men who had to leave their job to support the battle and the women who kept up with the jobs in order to keep the war running. The women went from running the house to running the factory.
Housework was a very important task and women were supposed to take great joy in it. Upper and middle class girls were taught from a young age the skills they would need in order to keep a happy, healthy, peaceful home. While the outside world and working force were definitively male, the home was considered to be a feminine place. The outside world was evil and full of sin and wrongdoing, but the home was a moral haven (MacKethan). Husbands went to work in the corrupt world of industry, so they were meant to come home, decompress, and once again become attuned with their compassionate side.