World War Two

World War Two

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, women were authorized by congress to serve with the United State's Coast Guard, Army, Marines, and Navy, so they did just that. Around 400,000 women served, 432 died, and 88 were prisoners of war. They helped with every aspect of the war except direct combat. 

The Women's Auxiliary Army Corps. (WAAC) was established in 1942, which changed into Women's Army Corps. (WAC) in 1943. A lady named Oveta Culp Hobby became the first director of WAAC. This group would seek for authorization from the government for women's involvement in the Army. According to the National Women's History Museum, "Hobby told the first WAAC officer candidate class, "You are the first women to serve...Never forget it...you have a debt and a date…A debt to democracy, a date with destiny.” Hobby impacted American history by her services. Also around this time, Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) was created to recruit women into the Navy, the Marine Corps. Women's Reserve was created to recruit women into the Marines, and the Women's Reserve known as SPARS was created to recruit women into the Coast Guard. All three of these groups had similar goals to that of the WAAC.

Army and Navy nurses continued to grow during WW2. Their numbers rose to around 59,000 for the Army and 11,000 for the Navy.The top left picture depicts a Army Nurse preforming a proper injection. The top right picture is from a 1945 magazine showing that women in the military can be both strong and feminine. The female image had revolved from the what was once a women in a dress standing in the kitchen to a woman with lipstick a hard hat and boots. The National Advertising Council promoting ads like this, because it promoted military involvement and help. The government was attempting to launch a propaganda campaign to actually encourage women to find their place in either the military or industries, corporations, and factories. Rosie the Riveter was a major icon during the propaganda campaign. Rosie the Riveter was first published on The Saturday Evening Post, and she received a lot of attention. She promoted courage, determination, hard work, and beauty. There are many versions of Rosie, but the most popular is shown to the left. 

References

Barewalls. (Photographer). (n.d.). We can do it. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.barewalls.com/pv-466620_Rosie-The-Riveter--We-Can-Do-It.htm

National Women's History Museum. (Photographer). (2007). The american. [Web Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.nwhm.org/online-exhibits/partners/2.htm

National Women's History Museum. (Producer). (1942).Nurses corps. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from http://www.nwhm.org/online-exhibits/partners/4.htm

Sorensen, A. (2004). Rosie the riveter: Women working during world war two. Retrieved from http://www.nps.gov/pwro/collection/website/rosie.htm

Women in Military Service For America Memorial Foundation Inc. (n.d.). Highlights in the history of military women. Retrieved from http://www.womensmemorial.org/Education/timeline.html