History, Feminism
The Women of World War II
Eternal meanings in the world of brave
World WarII was the largest war in history and one of the important events of the 20th-century. It happened during the years 1939–1945 between the Axis powers: Germany, Italy, and Japan, and the Allies powers: France, Great Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union, and to a lesser extent, China. Women, at that time, played an important role in all sectors of life. They gave their time, energy, and some even gave their lives. Through the war, when men left, women became proficient housekeepers, managed the finances, learned to fix the car, and worked in a defense plant.
Thousands of American women served in uniform, they took office jobs in the armed forces to free men to fight. They also drove trucks, repaired airplanes, worked as laboratory technicians, and some other jobs. Also, some women served near the front lines in the Army Nurse Corps. History At a Glance: Women in World War II article, from the National War Museum, showed the roles and contributions of women in WWII.
The cultural icon associated with the women during WWII is Rosie the Riveter. Rosie the Riveter was probably the most effective propaganda to recruit women workers for the defense industry during WWII. It is the symbol of American feminism and women’s economic advantage. This cultural icon Influenced the world of art, and this showed through a beautiful song named Rosie the Riveter.
Women Warriors of World War II
Many heroes women appeared through WWII. I am going to mention two heroes that worked in the nursing field. I chose this field for the reason that I read one of the most beautiful sentences: “Nurses are trained to never abandon their patients”.
Ruby Bradley (1907–2002)
She was an American hero, a nurse army colonel. She was placed in the Philippines when the Japanese attacked the U.S. Military in 1941. Bradly, with two others, were prisoners of the war. They remained three years helping sick and injured soldiers. When U.S. troops captured the camp in February 1945, Bradley returned to the United States and then continued her career in the Army. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California in 1949. In 1958 Bradley was promoted to the rank of colonel. In 1963 she retired from the Army.
Ensign Jane Kendeigh (1922–1987)
She was the first U.S. Navy flight nurse to fly an evacuation mission to an active battlefield. From 6 to 21 March 1945, Kendeigh and other nurses evacuated thousands of marines and sailors from Iwo Jima. Jane was born in Oberlin and she graduated from nursing school in Cleveland. She continued to pursue her nursing career after leaving the Navy. In 1987, she died from cancer.
Women After the War
Social monitors worried that when men returned from Military service, there would be no jobs available for them. They advised women to return homes as soon as victory at hand. Although a large percentage of women wanted to continue their work, they were laid-off at the end of the war. But women’s participation in the workforce relatively quickly back. By 1950 about 32% of women were working outside the home, and around half of them were married.
Conclusion
Women could save a country in all details of daily life, as long as they could fight in the war and help soldiers. Around 2 million women were killed in WWII.
In WWII around 400,000 women decided to share men the battle. In 1948 the United States Armed forces issued the law to allow women in the U.S. army lines.
Through watching the war, we saw it had two important lines, the first line was fighting the enemies, and the second one was saving the homeland. We discovered the role of women in both lines.
