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Winds of Change: Women’s Resilience and Empowerment in the Midst of World War II
Through the turmoil of World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt, along with most Americans, desired to stay away from international disputes; America was isolated. President Roosevelt’s focus was battling against the Great Depression (Shi 893). Despite America’s wishes to remain isolated from international affairs, on December 7, 1949, the sleeping giant was rudely awakened by the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor (Edwards). Thus forcing America to step into World War II (Shi 893). As men were drafted to serve the United States of America, young American women swooped in to fill in the positions of men. The activism demonstrated by the American women was astonishing (Weaks-Baxter et al.). In previous wars, women had served a dutiful role in supporting the American armed forces. However, during World War II, women, in large numbers, flooded the skilled factories and armed forces. While many were paid for their contribution, the majority were volunteers (Weaks-Baxter et al.).
For the first time, women could join the military (Lockhart). The role of women during World War II ignited a turning point in history that changed women forever; women saw that they could liberate themselves and fight for opportunities in America, leading to the roles women serve today in our globalized world. During the war, over six million women entered the workforce, replacing men (Shi 912). The government released a campaign to encourage more women to enter the workforce using “Rosie the Riveter” (912). The Rockford College women, like the majority of women in the United States, put in their war effort to support the American armed forces. They were nurses, donated blood, cared for children, and prepared bandages and surgical dressing along with garments for the combat zone (Weaks-Baxter et al.).
During World War II, it was also the first time women were advertised as strong and capable of working. In 1940, women were advertised as mothers or homemakers in 36% of all the ads containing women, while in 59%, women were not portrayed in hard-working roles with occupations (Lewis and Neville). Into the years of the war, advertisers began promoting working women. From 140 to 1943, wage-earning and working women began to increase, while during those same years, the portrayal of non-working women decreased (Lewis and Neville). When women began entering the workforce, there were many disgruntled men who disapproved of working women. A disapproving legislator man specifically said, “Who will do the cooking, the washing, the mending, the humble, homey tasks to which every woman has devoted herself; who will rear and nurture children?” (Shi 912-3). Despite the discontentment, women were particularly enthusiastic about liberating themselves from domestic chores and earning wages (Shi 913).
Pearl Harbor’s Paradox: Women’s Struggles and Triumphs Against Dual Standards and Discrimination
Despite the encouragement for women to take on male responsibilities, it still imposed double standards by suggesting women take on suitable feminine roles. Women are to be nurses, not doctors (Weaks-Baxter et al.). Brigadier General John M. Willes, from Camp Grant, challenged college students from Rockford to step up and seize the opportunities that women would never have grasped in the past. Yet, he hopes that women will preserve feminine education, “Appreciation of beauty is one of the ultimate parts of life, and philosophy, languages, and the arts must hold their place” (Weaks-Baxter et al.).
Aside from the opposing male perspective, there were also women who were against the war effort. Yet, ironically, it still tended to civilian services. The majority of women in civilian services or Civilian Public Services (CPS) were against the war effort. They were deeply ingrained in the beliefs or teachings taught by historic peace churches (Goossen). Despite receiving the backlash, the years of war have provided women the opportunity to take liberation for themselves, which was empowering on different levels. Liberation from domestic duties allowed women to seize greater control of their lives and realize their ability to shape and change the future (Weaks-Baxter et al.).
There was a perception that the military was too harsh for women. It would ruin a woman’s femininity. “350,000 women volunteered for some branch of military service” (Cornell). Though women filled up clerical duties in the military, thus freeing more men to join combat, women took on many responsibilities that were passed, such as typing and filing reports (Cornell). It was the first time in US history that women had their own branches in the military. Women’s Army Corps (WAC) was the first and largest branch; it had approximately 140,000 members. Two female pilots, Jaqueline Cochran and Nancy Love, created Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP).
The primary mission of WASP was to fly aircraft to military stations for piloted men and instruct an antiaircraft crew (Atwood). Despite the effort, WASP was not considered to be a part of the military, thus receiving no armed benefits besides pay. The program was shut down in 1944 (Atwood). Women volunteered to be nurses at home and abroad. At the end of the war, women served in all branches of the military and all over the world where the US military was deployed (Cornell). However, it was not just white women who joined the fight to support the war effort.
The United States was fighting a war against Fascism and Nazism, which both demonstrated racial prejudice and racial bigotry was rampant in the United States. African Americans have taken note of irony through the war in how the United States battles racism abroad while accepting it at home (Shi 914). Despite the racial prejudice, many blacks saw this war as a way to prove their loyalty to the United States of America (Moore). Before World War II, African Americans were not included in the armed forces (Moore). African Americans, men and women both volunteered to serve in the armed forces were racially segregated (914).
With so many men fighting in combat, recruiting women to the military was imperative; the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) was created in March 1942 (Moore). Upon arriving at Fort Des Moines, segregation was immediate. The colored girls had to eat at a table marked “Colored.” The women refused to be treated differently from the rest, and they turned their plates over. The signs were removed within a week.
Some of the WAAC members believed they must work harder to prove that black women can do better than men and white women. (Mullenbach). Later, WAAC was converted to WAC (Women’s Army Corps), and most black women joined WAC because the Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services) accepted only a few black women (Moore). Though black women’s efforts count as much as any other person’s effort, many would still face blatant discrimination after the war. Some people would still not be able to see past the skin color and see the person who served the country (Mullenbach).
Pearl Harbor’s Impact: Challenging Racial Discrimination and Redefining Women’s Roles in Society
Not only were black women treated differently. Japanese American women, after the Pearl Harbor incident, faced their own challenges that were similar to the blacks, yet different. Japanese Americans even before the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese people were blatantly mistreated as well. Japanese who settled in Hawaii had more opportunities versus the ones who settled on the mainland (“Serving Our Country”). There were laws that restricted Japanese immigrants from owning agricultural land, and the treatment towards them only worsened because of the war (“Serving Our Country”). Before the war, Nisei women wanted to be American; they tried their hardest to be American (National Japanese). Nisei are second-generation Americans of Japanese descent. Nisei women were recruited to join WAC in November of 1942, when it was originally established in July 1942.
Double standards stood tall; women of German or Italian descent were inducted without prohibitions, while at the same time, the United States was at war against Germany and Italy. Nisei women, unlike African American women, were not segregated. They were fully incorporated into WAC. Nisei women shared their experience in WAC; they claimed they felt no hostility or discrimination at all against them (“Serving Our Country”). American Japanese women, despite the guilt looming over their heads, seek to fit into American Society and prove their loyalty (National Japanese). World War II, though the United States wished to remain isolated from the rest of the world’s boiling conflicts, it was rudely pushed into the war after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Conflict was inevitable.
What problem gave rise to American women, no matter what color? Young white women stepped up to the plate to fill in the roles of women in all aspects of life. Even in the military. However, it was quite different for colored women. African American Women were rejected by the white-dominated society, even when opportunities were lush. It was only when there was a need for more people it was imperative to recruit the colored women. Nisei women faced fewer challenges, but Japanese stigma from the bombing of Pearl Harbor and existing discrimination was existent. They were later accepted in the military after German and Italian women, people who were descended from the Axis powers.
The enemies America was fighting against. Double standards stood tall in America for colored women. However, women changed from World War II. They seized control of their own liberation, not only proving themselves worthy of opportunities, but for colored women, it was proving they were equal to men and white women. With men gone to combat zones, women had a taste of breaking the traditional roles that kept them at bay. Without a doubt, World War II, though deadly, was a breaking point for women. Women did not stop fighting after the war; they fought even harder after the war for the right to be accepted as equal to men and equal to all races.
References
- Shi, D. E. (2015). “America: A Narrative History.” W. W. Norton & Company.
- Edwards, W. (n.d.). “Attack on Pearl Harbor: Facts and Information.” The History Channel.
- Weaks-Baxter, M. et al. (n.d.). “Women and World War II.” Rockford University.
- Lewis, J. and Neville, H. (2009). “Mass Communication and American Society.” Taylor & Francis.
- Cornell, L. (2013). “American Women in World War II: On the Home Front and Beyond.” National Women’s History Museum.
- Goossen, R. W. (2005). “Challenging the Quaker Peace Testimony: Dutch Mennonite Relief Efforts in Europe after World War II.” Mennonite Quarterly Review, 79(1), 7-32.
- Moore, B. (2014). “To Serve My Country, To Serve My Race: The Story of the Only African American WACS Stationed Overseas during World War II.” NYU Press.
- Atwood, A. S. (1983). “Women on the Rise: A Report on the Status of Women in the United States.” US Government Printing Office.
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