Changing Gender Roles: Impact of World War II

670 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Women during war and conflict

Prior to World War two, gender roles in the household were pretty simple. Men went out to work and made the money for the family, as women stayed home to tend to the children, cook, and clean the house. All of this seemed like a lifelong routine, however, little did they know how they would be living such different lifestyles by 1939. World War two prompted drastic responsibility changes for women and children in and out of the household. To begin, when the war started it was obvious that many women were alone after their husbands left for battle. Because of this, women needed to contribute in a variety of ways that they never experienced before. As is it stated on National Women's History Museum, “For many women, World War II brought not …show more content…

Immediately after it started, many were transported from their homes and taken to completely different places away from home. The History Learning states, “Children were massively affected by World War Two. Nearly two million children were evacuated from their homes at the start of World War Two; children had to endure rationing, gas mask lessons, living with strangers etc” (Trueman 1). This could have been extremely tough for a kid, especially if they were being separated from their families. To continue, those children who were still around helped by “scrapping”. Basically, they went out and found materials that could be reused or used to develop something that was needed. “My Learning” site states, “Children were also encouraged to help recycle materials that were in short supply to make equipment needed for the war. Many aluminium items were called in for recycling so that they could be used to make aircraft” (Northampton 1). Although it may not have seemed like a lot, the effect children had was insane. By doing what they did it allowed for more materials and weapons to be made for the soldiers on the battlefield. In conclusion, women and children had very different lives when the second world war began. They did many great things to contribute to the war and had a long lasting effect on the turnout of it. Without the help of some women nurses and children, there is a chance that many more lives could have been lost and the result of the war may have been completely

Show More
Related

  • Women in World War Two

    1430 Words  | 3 Pages

    American women in World War II brought significant changes which although people expectation that life would go back to normal they modify their lifestyle making women free of society pressure and norms, because the war changed the traditional way to see a woman and their roles leading to a new society where women were allowed to study and work in the same way than men. Creating a legacy with the principles of today’s society.

    Read More

  • The Role Of Domesticity In The 1950's

    1482 Words  | 3 Pages

    During the war, women played a vital role in the workforce because all of the men had to go fight overseas and left their jobs. This forced women to work in factories and volunteer for war time measures.

    Read More

  • Women in WWII

    588 Words  | 2 Pages

    World War Two was the period where women came out of their shells and was finally recognized of what they’re capable of doing. Unlike World War One, men weren’t the only ones who were shined upon. Women played many significant roles in the war which contributed to the allied victory in World War Two. They contributed to the war in many different ways; some found themselves in the heat of the battle, and or at the home front either in the industries or at homes to help with the war effort as a woman.

    Read More

  • World War Two and Its Impact on the Role of American Women in Society

    1950 Words  | 4 Pages

    Never before this time had women across the country been given the chance to express themselves and hold responsibilities outside their own households. They felt that they were needed and enjoyed their ability to contribute to the war effort. They were given opportunities to prove to the male society that they could be independent and financially secure on their own. These new opportunities were not only for the white women of the population but also the blacks. World War Two acted as a catalyst for change for the women of the United States. Many feel that it was the beginning of a whole new era for the Women of America.

    Read More

  • Women of WWII in the Labor Force

    1402 Words  | 3 Pages

    When American officially entered World War II in 1941 changes occurred for many people. The draft was enacted forcing men to do their duty and fight for their country. Women were asked to hold down the home front in many ways, ranging from rationing, volunteering, saving bacon grease and making the most of their commodities they currently had. There was also a hard push for women to take war production jobs outside the home. Before the depression, just a few years before the war, it was not uncommon for a woman to work for wages, but as the depression set in, married women were at risk of losing their jobs. Numerous women were fired or asked to resign in order to make room for a man who had lost his job. Many citizens felt it was unfair for a family to have two wage earners when some families had none. (Kessler-Harris) Previously, the average workforce of women was young and single. However, when the war started, couples were married at a younger age, putting the typical worker in short supply. This led to a rapid increase in older married women going to work outside the home. “During the depression, 80 percent of Americans objected to wives working outside the home, by 1942, only 13 percent still objected.” (May) By the end of the war, 25 percent of married women were employed. (May) Although women had worked outside the home prior to World War II, their entrance into the war production labor force created change in the typical gender roles and provided an exciting and yet difficult time for many women who were gaining their independence.

    Read More

  • Rosie the Riveter

    1261 Words  | 3 Pages

    World War II, the most destructive and devastating conflict that the globe would ever would be weighed upon, was a threat to eliminate the balance of the nations. Germany, Japan, and Italy utilized their military power, placing the world at peril in 1939 through 1945. However, the period beckoned for opportunity, also. Women desired the chance to serve for their country. They wanted others to recognize that they weren’t going to be idle during this mass era. Women to have rights and responsibilities in World War II would affect their view of their roles in history forever.

    Read More

  • Gender Roles In The 1950s

    1034 Words  | 3 Pages

    The world was a very different place sixty years ago. The men came home from the war to take back the work force from the women and sent the women back into the home to follow traditional domestic roles. All aspects of life had to be cookie cutter perfect, to include the gender roles. The roles of both genders have been portrayed by the BBC Television show, Call the Midwife, as they use to be in the 1950’s. The men were the breadwinners of their family by working arduous hours, protect their family and home, and have zero contact with feminine things and activities; the women were expected to get married early, always look their best, and never indulge in their aspirations for a career outside of the home unless they were single.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Rock And Roll Today And 1950's

    1392 Words  | 3 Pages

    After the World War II, this group of individuals were expected to view life in a more serious perspective. They had to take up certain roles, for instance, the male individuals willingly joined the army in order to make enough money to sustain their families. The female counterparts on the other hand took up household responsibilities, got married and built families. Though education was considered as a fundamental requirement, issues such as marriage had an upper hand. During the same period, there was a great deal of improvement of the economy and most parents could afford to take their children to institutions of higher learning.

    Read More

  • Women's Role During World War II

    818 Words  | 2 Pages

    World War II was the largest and most violent armed conflict in the history of mankind.

    Read More

  • Women In The 1940's

    741 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the early 1900’s, women who were married main jobs were to care for her family, manage their houses, and do housework. That is where the word housewife was come from. During the 1940's, women's roles and expectations in society were changing quickly and a lot. Before, women had very limited say in society. Since unemployment was so high during the Great Depression, most people were against women working because they saw it as women taking jobs from men that needed to work. Women were often stereotyped to stay home, have babies, and to be a good wife and mother. Advertisements often targeted women, showing them in the kitchen, talking with children, serving dinner, cleaning, and them with the joy of a clean house or the latest kitchen appliance.

    Read More

  • The Lack of Women's role in society in the 1950s

    1155 Words  | 3 Pages

    Due to the idealization of domesticity in media, there was a significantly stagnant period of time for women’s rights between 1945 and 1959. Women took over the roles for men in the workplace who were fighting abroad during the early 1940s, and a strong, feminist movement rose in the 1960s. However, in between these time periods, there was a time in which women returned to the home, focusing their attention on taking care of the children and waiting on their husband’s every need. This was perpetuated due to the increasing popularity of media’s involvement in the lives of housewives, such as the increasing sales of televisions and the increase in the number of sexist toys. During America’s involvement in World War Two, which spanned from 1941 until 1945, many men went off to fight overseas.

    Read More

  • Women in World War One

    918 Words  | 2 Pages

    In conclusion: WWI was a chance for women to show the world that women can do anything a man can and should be treated as equals. Women made many contributions to the war and paved the way for women to have more rights and freedom today.

    Read More

  • Women's Roles In The 1920s Essay

    895 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Women’s roles were constantly changing and have not stopped still to this day.” In the early 1900s many people expected women to be stay at home moms and let the husbands support them. But this all changes in the 1920s, women got the right to vote and began working from the result of work they have done in the war. Altogether in the 1920s women's roles have changed drastically.

    Read More

  • Women's Roles During The Cold War

    726 Words  | 2 Pages

    During the events of the cold war, the roles of family members were determined by society. This created a uniform system for everyone to follow. Women specifically were put into very rigid roles in the house. Gender roles were seen in everyday life as it had been many years before. Although women had just recently gained new liberties with suffrage movements and the 19th amendment, they were reverted to overseeing maintenance of both the house and family.

    Read More

  • Effects of World War II

    900 Words  | 2 Pages

    In every war the women had stepped up to try to help the men who were off to fight, but the more agrarian societies of the revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, and even World War I meant that most stepped up to do the work on the farm. In World War II, it was just as likely that the wives and mothers were stepping up to take a place in a factory as in the fields. While America was still primarily agrarian, the factories needed for warfare had brought the women to take their husband’s and son’s and boyfriend’s places. And while some women followed their husbands to the battlefront in the Civil War, and a few even enlisted as men, World War II brought a whole new experience as a huge war machine needed the men at the fronts for ...

    Read More

More about Changing Gender Roles: Impact of World War II

Open Document