Women of World War I and World War Ii
Vincent Pasquale
March 28, 2010
Western Civ. 102
World War I and World War II had a profound effect on many people living during those time periods. During World War I and World War II thousands lost their lives fighting for their respective countries. Men played a crucial part in fighting for their countries on the war front, but on the home front women played a crucial part also. During both World War I and World War II, women were called on to do work and take on major roles that were outside their traditional gender expectations while the men fought. Although the wars were a particularly violent time, it brought many changes, to everyday life, to the economic and social relations of men and women, and gender roles.
World War I was a military conflict that lasted from 1914 to 1918 and involved several of the world 's great powers. During World War I men of all nations like the U.S, Britain, France Germany, Italy and etc. enlisted in the many branches of the military like the marines, the navy, the air force, and the army (Spielvogel 535). Men went out and fought for their countries not knowing what was going to happen each day. Millions of men lost their lives during World War I. World War I brought many casualties because of the introduction to trench warfare. The four years that World War I lasted caused women to step into various jobs that they were unfamiliar with. Spielvogel explains “With so many men off fighting at the front, women were called upon to take over jobs and responsibilities that had not been available to them before” (Spielvogel 544). Also with millions of men away fighting and the inevitable high amounts of casualties, this caused many economic issues. There was a severe shortage in a variety of industries, anywhere from rural and farm work to city office jobs (Spielvogel 544).
[pic][pic]
While the American men were off fighting, women in the U.S were taking on vital
March 28, 2010
Western Civ. 102
World War I and World War II had a profound effect on many people living during those time periods. During World War I and World War II thousands lost their lives fighting for their respective countries. Men played a crucial part in fighting for their countries on the war front, but on the home front women played a crucial part also. During both World War I and World War II, women were called on to do work and take on major roles that were outside their traditional gender expectations while the men fought. Although the wars were a particularly violent time, it brought many changes, to everyday life, to the economic and social relations of men and women, and gender roles.
World War I was a military conflict that lasted from 1914 to 1918 and involved several of the world 's great powers. During World War I men of all nations like the U.S, Britain, France Germany, Italy and etc. enlisted in the many branches of the military like the marines, the navy, the air force, and the army (Spielvogel 535). Men went out and fought for their countries not knowing what was going to happen each day. Millions of men lost their lives during World War I. World War I brought many casualties because of the introduction to trench warfare. The four years that World War I lasted caused women to step into various jobs that they were unfamiliar with. Spielvogel explains “With so many men off fighting at the front, women were called upon to take over jobs and responsibilities that had not been available to them before” (Spielvogel 544). Also with millions of men away fighting and the inevitable high amounts of casualties, this caused many economic issues. There was a severe shortage in a variety of industries, anywhere from rural and farm work to city office jobs (Spielvogel 544).
[pic][pic]
While the American men were off fighting, women in the U.S were taking on vital
Bibliography: Spielvogel, Jackson J. Western Civilization. Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth, 2006.