"we can do it"
TRANSCRIPT
WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE DURING WORLD WAR I I
BY JESSICA LEROUX
“We Can Do It!”
On December 7th 1941 America was changed for forever. Pearl Harbor, a US Navel base in Hawaii was victim of a surprise attack by Japan.
America had yet to join in World War II, but after the attack on Pearl Harbor in which over 2,000 men were killed, there was no other option for the United States.
The USS Utah, one of the many ships that sunk during the attack.
From the Library of Congress
A Day That Will Never Be Forgotten
A Nation at War
My Grandfather before shipping out, 1942
When America joined into World War II many men left their civilian jobs to join the military.
These jobs included careers in offices and factories.
Many of these jobs needed to be filled.
Women stepped up to fulfill these roles.
Women were always in the workplace, but a majority of women’s jobs were done by minorities and women of the lower class.
Most middle to upper class women stayed at home and took care of the house and children.
But with many husbands gone away to war, and money tight something had to be done. Palmer, Alfred T.,, photographer.
Photo from The Library of Congress
Who is Rosie?
Rosie The Riveter is a fictional character, based on the real life women who began filling the factories.
The original picture was drawn by Norman Rockwell
She was used as propaganda to encourage women to enter the workplace and help their country.
She was seen as patriotic and brave.
* photo from Library of Congress
The Factories There were many factories that went from automotive production to aircraft and tank construction.
Many of these plants are here in Michigan, among them is The Willow Run Factory, near Belleville MI.
This particular plant constructed B24 Bombers used in battle.
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Hollem, Howard R.,, photographer. Library Of Congress
Hollem, Howard R.,, photographer.
From The Library Of Congress
Before World War II there were about 12 million women (about 1/4 the workforce) already working.
At the end of the war there were over 18 million women employed.
Other Jobs Women Occupied
There were many other job opportunities for women other that factory positions, among these were:
Truck Drivers Nursing Defensive militias
A nurse working on blood transfusion
Hollem, Howard R.,, photographer. Library of Congress
The War Effort at Home
More than just working, women and their families had to ration their groceries and supplies.
Many goods were rationed including: Sugar Butter Meat Oil Gasoline Nylon
End of the War
After World War II many women stopped working, giving up their jobs to the veterans returning home.
Some women refused to quit their jobs. Many companies tried to discourage them
from working by demoting them and giving them lower paying jobs.
My Grandmother was one of many who no
longer worked when my Grandfather returned home from Germany.
The Effects
Click icon to add pictureWomen during World War II proved that they could uphold jobs and be the breadwinner for their families.
They helped pave the way for more women of the future.
•Palmer, Alfred T.,, photographer.
•Library of Congress
Work Cited
About Rosie and the women in the workplace:Lewis, Jone J. "women and World War II-Women at Work." About.com. About.com, 2010. Web. 1 Mar. 2010.
<http://womenshistory.about.com/od/warwwii/a/women_work.htm>.
Rosie the Riveter." Travel and History. Google, n.d. Google.com. Web. 1 Mar. 2010. <http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1656.html>.
About Pearl Harbor:Attack at Pearl Harbor, 1941," EyeWitness to History, www.eyewitnesstohistory.com (1997).
About Willow Run:Elliott, Michael. "Willow Run: An Obituary for GM's Most Famous Plant." TIME. CNN, 2 June 2009. Google.com. Web. 1 Mar. 2010.
<http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1902325,00.html>.
Most of the pictures were from The Library of Congress, from the CommonsPicture on slide 2: Library of Congress, LC-B2- 2267-11Picture on slide 4: Library of Congress, LC-USW36-111 Picture on slide 5: U.S. National Archives' Local Identifier: NWDNS-179-WP-1563 (but found in the Library of Congress among the Commons)Picture on slide 6: Library of Congress, LC-USW36-472 Picture on Slide 7: Library of Congress, LC-USW36-470 Picture on slide 8: Library of Congress, LC-USW36-418 Picture on Slide 9: Library of Congress, LC-USW36-418Picture on Slide 11: Library of Congress, LC-USW36-109
The photos on slide 3 and 10 are from my family’s personal photo albums, of my grandfather James Clark Green and my grandmother Margret Elizabeth Green