World War II impacted men, women and children in untold
number of ways. When the U.S. entered the war after Pearl Harbor, life as folks
knew it was over. One of the many ways it changed women’s lives was to redefine
their roles in the workplace.
During World War I, the “war to end all wars,” women took
positions vacated by men serving in combat. When the conflict was over they
returned to their homes and readjusted to lives as wives and mothers. If
statistics and reports are to be believed, they were happy to do so.
Less than twenty-five years later, women again took jobs
available because of departing service men. However, this time many of the
women fought for the opportunity to keep their jobs when the hostilities ceased
and the men came home. They also fought for the opportunity to join unions and
receive equal pay for equal work.
Another way the war changed women’s lives was through
education. Prior to the war, hosts of
women attended college and earned
degrees, but there was limited access to jobs in which they could apply the
degree. Thanks to WWII, employees (read men) with higher education were
overseas fighting. Therefore, employers turned to degreed women to fill their
needs. They were pleasantly surprised to discover the women were more than
qualified to get the job done.
The third way the war changed women’s lives was the chance to
join the military and military auxiliary services. Women were generally not
allowed in combat situations, but some jobs took them close to the front, such
as the Army and Navy medical corps.
I have always had a career. Even before I left college with
a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, I knew I wanted a job that would challenge
and excite me, a job for which I would be paid an equitable salary. I don’t
think I would have had that if it weren’t for those women who went before me to
pave the way.
Is there a special woman in your life who paved the way for
you?
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