Women During Ww2 Dbq Essay

Many women during WWII experienced things that they had never done before. Before the war began women were supposed to be “perfect”. The house always had to be clean, dinner ready on the table, laundry done, and have themselves as well as their children ready for every event of the day. Once the war began and men were drafted, women had to take on the men’s role as well as their own. Women now fixed cars, worked in factories, played baseball, handled the finances, and so forth. So, what challenges and opportunities did women face on the home front during WWII? Women had many opportunities like playing baseball and working, they also faced many hardships, such as not having enough food, money, and clothing.
During WWII people had to ration their food so that there was enough for everyone to eat. “It was tight at times. You had to stop and think of what you were going to buy, and buy things that were going to stretch, maybe spaghetti, macaroni and mix it up with something else. I’d say in the summer months we were fortunate that we had fresh produce” (Doc. F). It made things worse that there were labor and transportation shortages and made it hard to harvest fruits and vegetables as well as transport them to various markets. The government

encouraged the citizens to plant Victory Gardens. Like the advertisement says, “Every available piece of land should be productive” (Doc. A). So that is what the people did. They planted gardens in their backyards, empty lots, and even on city rooftops. The citizens also learned how to can fruits and vegetables so that they would last longer.
Not only was food supply short, but many women had to take on men’s jobs. A lot of men were drafted into the war and there weren't enough of them to keep businesses going on the home front, so women stepped in and took their place. Rosie the Riveter was a cultural icon of the United States, representing the American women who worked in shipyards and factories. Rosie the Riveter was also a song written by Redd Evans and John Jacob Loeb and sung by The Four Vagabonds. Part of the lyrics say, “All day long, whether rain or shine. She’s a part of the assembly line. She’s making history, working for victory. Keeps a sharp lookout for sabotage, sitting up there on the fuselage. That little frail can do more than a male can do” (Doc. C). Rosie represents a hard working women. One that is very diligent and efficient in what she is doing. The “We Can Do It” poster (Doc. D), also called Rosie the Riveter, also shows a tough, hard working women. The poster was meant to encourage women to work harder as well as boost worker morale.
Children during WWII were affected in different ways.

Although women had the opportunity to work, many of them had children that needed to be taken care of while they worked. Some mothers relied on family members and friends to take care of their children, while others had to place their children in childcare centers. While young children were being taken care of, children who were old enough went to school. “Bay Area schoolchildren were enthusiastically enlisted into wartime activities, such as collecting scrap and buying Victory Stamps, but they were also identified as particularly vulnerable victims of wartime social changes” (Doc. B). Children could help out with the war effort whether they were at home or at

school.
Lastly, women had opportunities that they had never had before. Women were now allowed to play baseball. Phil Wrigley of the Chicago Cubs was worried that the major league ball parks would all be empty after men were drafted, so he started the All American Girls’ Professional Baseball League. The league didn't only give women the opportunity to play baseball, but the chance to do things that they couldn't have done, due to the lack of money. Wilma Briggs is one of those women that got the chance to play baseball. She said, “I traveled, lived in the best hotels, ate in restaurants, lived in private homes – that’s an experience. I think it gave me the courage years later to say, “I think I’ll go to college” (Doc. E). Not only did they have the opportunity to experience these things, the war gave them the courage to say that they will go to college.
What challenges and opportunities did women face on the home front during WWII? Women on the home front during WWII had many challenges and opportunities. Challenges included: lack of money, not enough money for clothing, and a shortage in food. Although they had these challenges, they tried to make the best of it. They did things like planting victory gardens, rationing food, and wearing cloths until they were completely worn out. Women also had various opportunities. Some of these opportunities included: learning how to do things that a man would do, including his job, and playing baseball. Women during this time had to be tough and very diligent. They had children that needed to be taken care of and husbands, brothers, fathers, and friends that needed support while they were out fighting the war. Whether there were challenges or opportunities for women on the home front, they were able to take on and handle anything that came their way.