by Betty Carew

Created on: February 13, 2009

The role of women in wars goes back as far as the time of wars and nowhere more so than in World War II. This is where women showed just what tenacity and power they had. Those that couldn't fight on the front, found other ways to contribute their efforts to help their countries. When their country needed them they were there to fit in where they would be the most helpful in fighting the enemy. They ranged from the housewife to those in government and gave their all, from taking over men's jobs, to those that took prominent positions in government. They all showed what women can do in the face of war.

Help from the Home front,

For the women that couldn't actually go to war there were many ways they helped at home. They organized propaganda campaigns, they worked outside the home in addition to taking care of their families, they practiced frugality, they carried groceries instead of using a car, so that the rubber could be saved for a contribution to the war, they grew their family's food, they sewed and repaired instead of buying new clothing, they raised money for war bonds and greatly contributed to the morale of the war through the sacrifices they made at home.

Working at home during the war,

With most of the men fighting on the war front the work at home increased from 25% to 36% and the women that stayed at home stepped up to the plate to fill these positions. Women found themselves in jobs that were only assigned to men before the war. The women that once only used a mixer in the home found themselves in jobs that required them to use a drill. There were workplaces that women weren't accepted before that now saw increases in the workforce as high as 9% filled with women. Many women moved to Washington DC to take government office and support jobs. In London things were a little worse for women they not only had to deal with the running of the home and child care while they worked, plus the use of food stamps and rations, but they also dealt with the bomb raids that occurred often.

Women and the Military,

Women were not allowed to be in combat positions but there were many other ways that they found to help in the military. Some became nurses and some became Red Cross Nurses, and some of these women died due to the war. Approximately 74,000 women served in the American Army and Navy Nurse Corps during the war. They took positions in military branches that freed the men to go to war and fight. More than 1000 women served as pilots with the US Air Force but were

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