lecture recording on 14 March 2025 at 12.24.55 PM

Women's Roles During World War II

• 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.

Advocacy for Women's Rights

• 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.

Civil Liberties and Japanese Americans During WWII

• 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.