They quickly become known as the "production soldiers" in the defense industries. It gave them endless pride to know they were doing their part to help win the war. She heard countless success stories and was quoted as saying, "I hardly saw a man who did not speak to me about the need for women in production." Many women reported that they felt patriotic and wanted to support their country, and that the money came second.
Women not only learned basic first aid techniques, but also were on call as volunteers at the local USO, which was considered to be an honor.Įleanor Roosevelt toured the factories and came away in awe of the new work force. There was a huge new opportunity to work for the American Red Cross. In some areas, women took the lead to accomplish certain tasks to support the nation’s war effort. They would perform not only a patriotic duty, but help themselves financially. They were hardworking individuals and that fact shed a new light on America as a whole.īy 1942 women were being urged to take advantage of any technical training to better prepare themselves to replace the men now in uniform. The women who used to stay home with the children now were not only able to work for their country, but were also given the opportunity to earn their way in the world. Most of the centers were built adjacent to the plants for the families' convenience.
Child care centers emerged all over the country. With that many women working in war-related jobs, the phenomenon changed America. Coming from all walks of life, there were those already working who switched to higher-paying defense jobs, those who had lost their jobs due to the Depression, and then of course there were the women who worked at home. Racial barriers were broken as various minority members went to work. During the war the women increased the workforce by 50 percent. Proving that they could do the jobs known as "men’s work" created an entirely new image of women in American society, and set the stage for upcoming generations.Įvery day the women, both young and old, would punch into work at the shipyards, factories and munitions plants across America. They became streetcar drivers, operated heavy construction machinery, worked in lumber and steel mills, unloaded freight and much more. They stepped up to the plate without hesitation and gave up their domestic jobs to accomplish things that only men had done before them. More than six million female workers helped to build planes, bombs, tanks and other weapons that would eventually win World War II. One of the many slogans shouted, "The more women at work, the sooner we win." The Magazine War Guide recommended that all published magazines participate in a "Women at work" cover promotion to emphasize not only defense and factory work, but all kinds of employment opportunities for women. Such titles as, “Women, you could hasten victory by working and save your man," abounded. Mothers, daughters, secretaries, wives and even schoolgirls picked up the factory duties the men had left behind.Ĭontinual appeals were issued from government sources throughout the war, with articles and ads placed in magazines to get women's attention. Who would "man" the assembly lines in the factories to produce the many needed items for the current war? Filling a gross shortage of manpower, through the factory gates flooded an army of woman power. With American men enlisting in the war effort, the work force quickly diminished. The surprise attack left the nation stunned as President Roosevelt called the United States to war. The devastating results were 2,433 deaths, the destruction of 18 U.S.
It all started that shocking Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, as 183 Japanese warplanes attacked America’s Hickam Field, Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii.