The role that women have played in wartime throughout History is something that cannot be understated because it was impactful and influential. California, during World War II, and the role that women played in upholding the defense industry specifically, is a prime example of just how important women were to the war effort. The airframe industry in California was one that saw dramatic growth in a very short period of time as World War II began. When the United States officially became involved, many men who were working in the airframe plants left to join the services and serve their country overseas. This caused a major labor shortage in the airframe industry that was needed to produce planes at a higher rate than ever before. At first, many of the manufacturers of aircraft were reluctant to hire women but eventually had to because the demand was high for America to keep up with demand. Donald Douglas was the founder of the Douglas Aircraft Company which was a major producer of aircraft during World War II. Donald Douglas stated “Men are more stable and efficient. Without women, no distractions are present in the canteen or the shop floor.”[1] However, this resentment towards women in the workplace changed drastically as the war raged on. According to the California Labor Review, California airframe industries began to hire women to fill in the labor shortages. In 1942, there were fewer than 10,000 women working in the California airframe industry but less than a year later in 1943, that number jumped to over 120,000.[2] Women were essential to the war effort on the home front in many ways but the airframe industry in California is just a small example. After the war, however, many women lost their airframe jobs in the defense industry because the factories returned the job to the men coming home from war. Housewives were a large number of workers who withdrew from the workforce as a result of the war ending.[3] No matter how history frames the influence that women had in World War II on the homefront, the role that women played in the war effort was essential to the United States and its victory in the war.
Throughout history, women have played diverse roles in times of war, often contributing to the war efforts in various ways. Despite facing significant societal and cultural barriers, many women have made remarkable contributions to their countries during times of conflict.
Below the level of queens and prime ministers, throughout history, some women accompanied armies assigned combat missions, usually handling roles such as cooking and laundry, as relations and camp followers. They sewed bandages, rubbed cow pat as 'medicine' and other medical equipment for the soldiers. Women worked in munitions factories. Nursing became a major role starting in the middle 19th century. The main role in World War I (1914-1918) was employment in munitions factories, farming, and other roles to replace men drafted for the army. Women played an important role in making the system of food rationing work. World War II (1939-1945) marked a decisive turning point, with millions of women handling important homefront roles, such as working in munitions factories and otherwise replacing drafted men. Volunteer roles expanded. The most dramatic new change was millions of women in regular military units. Typically they handled clerical roles so that some men could be released for combat. Many women in the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany and the United Kingdom fought in combat roles especially in anti-aircraft units, where they shot down enemy bombers. Underground and resistance movements made extensive use of women in combat roles. Reaction set in after 1945, and the roles allowed to women was sharply reduced in all major armies. Restarting in the 1970s, women played an increasing role in the military of major nations, including by 2005 roles as combat pilots. The new combat roles were highly controversial for many reasons including differences in physical capabilities of the sexes [4] and issues of gender identity for both women and men.[5]
↑ John H. Laslett, “L.A. Workers in World War II,” Sunshine Was Never Enough: Los Angeles Workers,1880-2010, (Berkeley, California: University of California Press, 2012), 188.
↑ “Wartime Expansion of the California Airframe Industry,” Monthly Labor Review (1945), (Washington D.C.: Washington G.P.O.)
↑ L R Linsenmayer and P E Warwick, “Postwar Adjustment of Aircraft Workers in Southern-California,” Monthly Labor Review 63, no. 5 (1946), (Washington: United States Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Cook, Bernard, ed. Women and War: Historical Encyclopedia from Antiquity to the Present (2006).
Elshtain, Jean Bethke. Women and War (1995)
Elshtain Jean, and Sheila Tobias, eds. Women, Militarism, and War (1990)
Hacker, Barton C. and Margaret Vining, eds. A Companion to Women's Military History (Brill, 2012), 625pp; 16 long essays by leading scholars stretching from the Ancient to the contemporary world
Jones, David. Women Warriors: A History (Brassey's, 1997)
Pennington, Reina. Amazons to Fighter Pilots: A Biographical Dictionary of Military Women (2003).
Salmonson, Jessica Amanda. The Encyclopedia of Amazons: Women Warriors from Antiquity to the Modern Era (1991).
During both World Wars, women were required to undertake new roles in their respective national war efforts. Women across the world experienced severe setbacks as well as considerable societal progress during this timeframe. The two World Wars hinged as much on industrial production as they did on battlefield clashes. While some women managed to enter the traditionally male career paths, women, for the most part, were expected to be primarily involved in "duties at home" and "women's work," especially after the wars were over. On the other hand, the two wars also victimized women and subjected them to numerous incidences of sexual violence, abuse, and death.
Military production during World War II was the production or mobilization of arms, ammunition, personnel and financing by the belligerents of the war, from the occupation of Austria in early 1938 to the surrender and occupation of Japan in late 1945.
In politics and military planning, a war effort is a coordinated mobilization of society's resources—both industrial and human—towards the support of a military force. Depending on the militarization of the culture, the relative size of the armed forces and the society supporting them, the style of government, and the famous support for the military objectives, such war effort can range from a small industry to complete command of society.
Women have been serving in the military since the inception of organized warfare, in both combat and non-combat roles. Their inclusion in combat missions has increased in recent decades, often serving as pilots, mechanics, and infantry officers.
The term "home front" covers the activities of the civilians in a nation at war. World War II was a total war; homeland military production became vital to both the Allied and Axis powers. Life on the home front during World War II was a significant part of the war effort for all participants and had a major impact on the outcome of the war. Governments became involved with new issues such as rationing, manpower allocation, home defense, evacuation in the face of air raids, and response to occupation by an enemy power. The morale and psychology of the people responded to leadership and propaganda. Typically women were mobilized to an unprecedented degree.
The United States home front during World War II supported the war effort in many ways, including a wide range of volunteer efforts and submitting to government-managed rationing and price controls. There was a general feeling of agreement that the sacrifices were for the national good during the war.
This timeline of women in warfare and the military (1900–1945) deals with the role of women in the military around the world from 1900 through 1945. The two major events in this time period were World War I and World War II. Please see Women in World War I and Women in World War II for more information.
Women in World War I were mobilized in unprecedented numbers on all sides. The vast majority of these women were drafted into the civilian work force to replace conscripted men or to work in greatly expanded munitions factories. Thousands served in the military in support roles, and in some countries many saw combat as well.
Although most Australian civilians lived far from the front line, the Australian home front during World War II played a significant role in the Allied victory and led to permanent changes to Australian society.
The State General Mobilization Law, also known as the National Mobilization Law, was legislated in the Diet of Japan by Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe on 24 March 1938 to put the national economy of the Empire of Japan on war-time footing after the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War.
The 195th Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Arizona Air National Guard 162d Fighter Wing located at Tucson Air National Guard Base, Arizona. The 195th is equipped with the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
The United States declared war on the German Empire on April 6, 1917, nearly three years after World War I started. A ceasefire and armistice were declared on November 11, 1918. Before entering the war, the U.S. had remained neutral, though it had been an important supplier to the United Kingdom, France, and the other powers of the Allies of World War I.
The history of Arizona during World War II begins in 1940, when the United States government began constructing military bases within the state in preparation for war. Arizona's contribution to the Allied war effort was significant both in terms of manpower and facilities supported in the state. Prisoner of war camps were operated at Camp Florence and Papago Park, and there was an internment camp to house Japanese-Americans, most of them citizens, who had been forcibly deported from the West Coast.
In World War II, many working-age men were drafted into the armed forces to fight abroad. During this time, women were drafted in to take their places in factories and construction. When WWII ended, most men came home; while many were unable or unwilling to return to their old jobs, there was not the same urgency for women to be in the workplace. As such, society had to deal with new attitudes and expectations regarding women’s employment.
This is a timeline of women in warfare in the United States from 1900 until 1949.
Women took on many different roles during World War II, including as combatants and workers on the home front. “More than six million women took wartime jobs in factories, three million volunteered with the Red Cross, and over 200,000 served in the military.” The war involved global conflict on an unprecedented scale; the absolute urgency of mobilizing the entire population made the expansion of the role of women inevitable, although the particular roles varied from country to country. Millions of women of various ages were injured or died as a result of the war.
American women in World War II became involved in many tasks they rarely had before; as the war involved global conflict on an unprecedented scale, the absolute urgency of mobilizing the entire population made the expansion of the role of women inevitable. Their services were recruited through a variety of methods, including posters and other print advertising, as well as popular songs. Among the most iconic images were those depicting "Rosie the Riveter", a woman factory laborer performing what was previously considered man's work.
The United Kingdom home front during World War II covers the political, social and economic history during 1939–1945.
California during World War II was a major contributor to the World War II effort. California's long Pacific Ocean coastline provided the support needed for the Pacific War. California also supported the war in Europe. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, most of California's manufacturing was shifted to the war effort. California became a major ship builder and aircraft manufacturer. Existing military installations were enlarged and many new ones were built. California trained many of the troops before their oversea deployment. Over 800,000 Californians served in the United States Armed Forces. California agriculture, ranches and farms were used to feed the troops around the world. California's long coastline also put the state in fear, as an attack on California seemed likely. California was used for the temporary and permanent internment camps for Japanese Americans. The population grew significantly, largely due to servicemen who were stationed at the new military bases/training facilities and the mass influx of workers from around the U.S. in the growing defense industries. With all the new economy activity, California was lifted out of the Great Depression. Over 500,000 people moved to California from other states to work in the growing economy. California expanded its oil and mineral production to keep up with the war demand.
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