The Women of WWII: A Revolution within a War

The day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 8, 1941, men of all ages, races, and backgrounds came together and left to help fight the war. In the meantime, the girlfriends, wives, daughters were left to fend for themselves. For a while, women thought they could not help their men from across the ocean. However, once propaganda kicked in, they were soon of to work in factories, dock, and assembly lines. By realizing their potential, women were able to provide the base for wining the war and creating a new name for women everywhere.

Women workers were in a desperate need during the war simply because all the laborers at the time were men. And these men were overseas. Because most women during the time were housewives- stayed at the home, cooked, cleaned, cared for the children, etc...- factory owners needed a way to sway their minds into getting jobs. The most effective way of doing so was using propaganda. The United States Government provided the country with most of the propaganda because they knew that their war efforts would fail unless the women took up war jobs. Probably the most well-known person who acted as a means to get women to work was named “Rosie the Riveter”. She became the icon that gave all women a sense of independence and strength. Approximately six million women everywhere scrambled to find jobs working as craftswomen, factory workers, farmers, and even airplane or barge builders. These women were true heroines during the time of World War II. These women would work long hours in sometimes unbearable conditions. Their motives however, were mostly patriotic.

This time period did not only stand for patriotism and unity, but for gender and racial equality as well. For the very first time, women were able to help the fighting troops directly. Although these women were not able to actually fight, they were able to partake in training to become air force pilots, free men from combat, heal those who were injured, or become part of the marines. These special jobs gave women satisfaction because they learned how to be independent and self-relying. Another important aspect of this war was that women of all races, backgrounds, and ethnicities were able to reach high rankings and reach true equality.

While most women became patriotic and unified through working for the war, a small group of women chose a different path. Philip Wrigley owned much of the male baseball league, a saw a problem with his income due to the war. Since most of the male baseball players were away fighting the war, he faced a serious problem. Philip had to figure out a way to keep his sport alive throughout the duration of the war, while still keeping the excitement of the game. His answer became what is known as the “All-American Girls Baseball League” (AAGBL). Those who played in this all girls baseball league were tempted to join because of the income they would receive. Many earned thirty to fifty dollars a week more than those who worked in factories. Despite the increase, the women who played in this league had to meet the standards that were set to differentiate women's baseball and men's baseball. The women were required to wear a shirt and skirt one piece, high stockings, and even partake in “how to be a true lady” classes. These baseball playing ladies would go from game to game, playing their hearts out, while showing their love for the sport and the ideas of patriotism and unity.

There is no question whether or not women had a role in World War II because they most certainly did. They were the backbone of the entire war effort. They produced weapons and armor that was needed on the battlefront, instilled independence among women, pride, unity of the nation, and reached equality among all races. The question that many faced was based on the homecoming of the countries' soldiers. What was to become of the country, that the women helped create and maintain once the men were back. Women took the jobs of many men in their leave of absence. Were the workers that labored for long hours six days a week give up their jobs to men and become housewives again? Were the female baseball players simply there to entertain the men who didn't fight and serve as a time killer until the male baseball players returned? Were all women, of any race or ethnicity, supposed to simply give up everything they have worked up to because they men were returning?