Shift in Work Dynamics
Before WWII, most women worked in textile mills or as secretaries.
During WWII, women took on new roles, including pilots transporting goods.
They became more involved in manufacturing roles such as building bombs, weapons, aircraft, and tanks.
Significance: Women began to work more on the front lines but did not directly engage in combat.
Stigmas and Societal Views
In 1940, societal concerns about women in the workforce included worries that marriage or pregnancy would lead to job abandonment.
Example: An administrator commented on hiring many women in their 20s, fearing they would leave.
Highlighted the ongoing stigma about women in certain roles, which began in the 1940s and still resonates today.
Cultural Icons
Rosie the Riveter:
A famous symbol promoting women's empowerment in the workplace during WWII.
Encouraged women to work in factories and contribute to the war effort.
Adaptations in Work Environment
Companies made changes to accommodate women, such as altering working hours to fit family planning needs.
Adjustments in machinery and equipment design made it easier for women to work, contributing to productivity.
Jane Addams
A prominent suffragist who fought for women’s rights and contributed to the right to vote established in 1920.
Continued to advocate for women's rights throughout the 1940s.
Differential Impact on Women of Color
African American women experienced opportunities during WWI, like industrial roles, but faced job losses after the war.
Economic choices differed; white women could return home by choice, while many African American women were forced out of jobs.
Executive Order 9066
Signed by FDR, this order led to the internment of about 100,000 Japanese American citizens, not immigrants, in internment camps.
Highlighted the distinction between internment camps (holding centers) and concentration camps (forced labor).
Evacuations
Families given short notice (2-3 weeks) to prepare for internment, often leading to loss of homes and businesses, frequently sold at 20% of their market value.
Homes were often in California, where many Japanese Americans lived, and non-Japanese Americans capitalized on these home sales.
Life in Internment Camps
Camps had poor living conditions but Japanese Americans created community support systems, including schools and recreational activities.
Government justified actions under national security concerns related to fears of espionage following the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Legal and Historical Fallout
Korematsu v. United States: A landmark Supreme Court case where Fred Korematsu refused internment and was arrested.
Supreme Court ruled the government's actions were constitutional due to wartime necessities.
In 1988, the government apologized and provided limited reparations that did not account for inflation.
Continued Advocacy and Recognition
Fred Korematsu cleared of charges in 1983 and awarded a Purple Heart by President Bill Clinton in 1992.