Women in war

The role that women have played in wartime throughout History is something that cannot be understated because it was impactful and influential toward the growth of American women. California, during World War II, and the role that women played in upholding the defense industry specifically, is a prime example of just how important women were to the war effort. The airframe industry in California was one that saw dramatic growth in a very short period of time as World War II began. When the United States officially became involved, many men who were working in the airframe plants left to join the services and serve their country overseas. This caused a major labor shortage in the airframe industry that was needed to produce planes at a higher rate than ever before. At first, many of the manufacturers of aircraft were reluctant to hire women but eventually had to because the demand was high for America to keep up with demand. Donald Douglas was the founder of the Douglas Aircraft Company which was a major producer of aircraft during World War II. Donald Douglas stated “Men are more stable and efficient. Without women, no distractions are present in the canteen or the shop floor.”^[1] However, this resentment towards women in the workplace changed drastically as the war raged on. According to the California Labor Review, California airframe industries began to hire women to fill in the labor shortages. In 1942, there were fewer than 10,000 women working in the California airframe industry but less than a year later in 1943, that number jumped to over 120,000.^[2] Women were essential to the war effort on the home front in many ways but the airframe industry in California is just a small example. After the war, however, many women lost their airframe jobs in the defense industry because the factories returned the job to the men coming home from war. Housewives were a large number of workers who withdrew from the workforce as a result of the war ending.^[3] No matter how history frames the influence that women had in World War II on the homefront, the role that women played in the war effort was essential to the United States and its victory in the war.

Throughout history, women have played diverse roles in times of war, often contributing to the war efforts in various ways. Despite facing significant societal and cultural barriers, many women have made remarkable contributions to their countries during times of conflict.

Below the level of queens and prime ministers, throughout history, some women accompanied armies assigned combat missions, usually handling roles such as cooking and laundry, as relations and camp followers. They sewed bandages, rubbed cow pat as 'medicine' and other medical equipment for the soldiers. Women worked in munitions factories. Nursing became a major role starting in the middle 19th century. The main role in World War I (1914-1918) was employment in munitions factories, farming, and other roles to replace men drafted for the army. Women played an important role in making the system of food rationing work. World War II (1939-1945) marked a decisive turning point, with millions of women handling important homefront roles, such as working in munitions factories and otherwise replacing drafted men. Volunteer roles expanded. The most dramatic new change was millions of women in regular military units. Typically they handled clerical roles so that some men could be released for combat. Many women in the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany and the United Kingdom fought in combat roles especially in anti-aircraft units, where they shot down enemy bombers. Underground and resistance movements made extensive use of women in combat roles. Reaction set in after 1945, and the roles allowed to women was sharply reduced in all major armies. Restarting in the 1970s, women played an increasing role in the military of major nations, including by 2005 roles as combat pilots. The new combat roles were highly controversial for many reasons including differences in physical capabilities of the sexes ^[4] and issues of gender identity for both women and men.^[5]

History[edit]

World War I[edit]

Interwar period[edit]

Women in the Spanish Civil War

World War II[edit]

Women's roles in the World Wars
- Code Girls
- Home front during World War II
- Housewives' demonstrations – Women protest poverty and rationing in WW2 France
- United States home front during World War II
  - Canadian women during the World Wars
- Soviet women in World War II
- Sexual violence during the Holocaust

Cold War[edit]

21st century conflicts[edit]

Contemporary[edit]

Notes[edit]

^ John H. Laslett, “L.A. Workers in World War II,” Sunshine Was Never Enough: Los Angeles Workers,1880-2010, (Berkeley, California: University of California Press, 2012), 188.
^ “Wartime Expansion of the California Airframe Industry,” Monthly Labor Review (1945), (Washington D.C.: Washington G.P.O.)
^ L R Linsenmayer and P E Warwick, “Postwar Adjustment of Aircraft Workers in Southern-California,” Monthly Labor Review 63, no. 5 (1946), (Washington: United States Bureau of Labor Statistics).
^ Brad Knickerbocker (January 4, 2014). "Just three pull-ups: Too many for women in the Marine Corps?". CS Monitor. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
^ Barton C. Hacker and Margaret Vining, eds. A Companion to Women's Military History (2012)

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