Women in World War Women in World War II

Modified by Mr. Volanth, Modified by Mr. Volanth,

Wallingford High SchoolWallingford High School

Quest for Social Change Quest for Social Change in America:in America:

Women’s UnitWomen’s Unit

IntroductionIntroduction

• American women experienced the so-called American women experienced the so-called “Great War” differently than any other “Great War” differently than any other previous warprevious war

• For For the first time, the Army and Navy the first time, the Army and Navy Nurse Corps was activatedNurse Corps was activated

• It was the It was the first war that women could not first war that women could not enlist as a foot soldier as a man—due to enlist as a foot soldier as a man—due to the introduction of thorough physical the introduction of thorough physical examinationsexaminations

• 25,000 women, 15,000 of them civilians, 25,000 women, 15,000 of them civilians, crossed a hostile ocean to help care for crossed a hostile ocean to help care for war’s victims—many before the U.S. was war’s victims—many before the U.S. was involved in the warinvolved in the war

African-American WomenAfrican-American Women

• At this time of overt racism, few At this time of overt racism, few black women were able to overcome black women were able to overcome obstacles to serveobstacles to serve

• After a long struggle, a few black After a long struggle, a few black nurses were admitted to the nurses nurses were admitted to the nurses corps, but after the war was overcorps, but after the war was over

• Although Although 200,000 black men served 200,000 black men served overseas, no more than half a dozen overseas, no more than half a dozen black women managed to get there black women managed to get there because most volunteer associations because most volunteer associations excluded them from service abroadexcluded them from service abroad

Before the U.S. Entry Before the U.S. Entry Into WarInto War

• American women used existing networks to American women used existing networks to help war victims, military and civilianhelp war victims, military and civilian

• Women’s clubs, lodges and church ladies’ Women’s clubs, lodges and church ladies’ societies and new groups collected and societies and new groups collected and shipped mounds of clothing overseas to help shipped mounds of clothing overseas to help and rescue refugee childrenand rescue refugee children

• The American Relief Clearing House and the The American Relief Clearing House and the American Fund for French Wounded furnished American Fund for French Wounded furnished and distributed hospital supplies and and distributed hospital supplies and ambulance servicesambulance services

• American women established workshops and American women established workshops and furnished materials for French seamstresses furnished materials for French seamstresses thrown out of workthrown out of work

IntroductionIntroduction• Although American women did Although American women did

not engage in combat during not engage in combat during the First World War, they the First World War, they nonetheless had a nonetheless had a significant impact on the significant impact on the war effortwar effort

• They participated in the They participated in the American Red Cross as nurses American Red Cross as nurses and caregivers both at home and caregivers both at home and in Europe, supplying and in Europe, supplying aid and shelter to soldiers aid and shelter to soldiers and civilian familiesand civilian families

• They They served in England, served in England, France, Serbia, Russia and France, Serbia, Russia and GermanyGermany

• They ran dormitories for They ran dormitories for European munitions workers, European munitions workers, drove ambulances, cared for drove ambulances, cared for orphans, fed soldiers on the orphans, fed soldiers on the march, found homes and march, found homes and furnishings for displaced furnishings for displaced civilianscivilians

IntroductionIntroduction

• They joined the They joined the workforce filling workforce filling vacant jobs left vacant jobs left by men who went by men who went overseas to serve overseas to serve as soldiersas soldiers

• They produced the They produced the necessary goods necessary goods needed for the needed for the country and the country and the war effortwar effort

IntroductionIntroduction• During the war, During the war, women women

joined the U.S. Army, joined the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Navy and Marine Corps, many serving stateside so many serving stateside so that men could go that men could go overseasoverseas

• In In 1901 and 1908 the 1901 and 1908 the establishment of the Army establishment of the Army and Navy Nurse Corps and Navy Nurse Corps opened the door for women opened the door for women in the militaryin the military

• When the United States When the United States got involved in World War got involved in World War One, some parts of the One, some parts of the government got serious government got serious about using woman power about using woman power

IntroductionIntroduction

• Nearly 13,000 women Nearly 13,000 women enlisted in the Navy enlisted in the Navy and the Marine Corps and the Marine Corps on the same status on the same status as men and wore a as men and wore a uniform blouse with uniform blouse with insignia insignia

• These were the first These were the first women in the U.S to women in the U.S to be admitted to some be admitted to some military rank and military rank and statusstatus

The American Red CrossThe American Red Cross

• Played a massive Played a massive role in the First role in the First World WarWorld War

• 1000s American 1000s American women volunteered women volunteered their timetheir time

• A way to A way to demonstrate demonstrate women’s women’s dedication to dedication to patriotismpatriotism

Red Cross NursesRed Cross Nurses• The The Service enrolled Service enrolled 23,822 Red Cross 23,822 Red Cross nurses during the warnurses during the war

• Of these, 19,931 were Of these, 19,931 were assigned to active assigned to active duty with the Army, duty with the Army, Navy, U.S. Public Navy, U.S. Public Health Service, and Health Service, and the Red Cross the Red Cross overseasoverseas

• The Red Cross also The Red Cross also enrolled and trained enrolled and trained nurses' aides to help nurses' aides to help make up for the make up for the shortage of nurses on shortage of nurses on the homefront due to the homefront due to the war effortthe war effort

Brief History of the Brief History of the Red CrossRed Cross

• Clara Barton and a circle Clara Barton and a circle of acquaintances founded of acquaintances founded the American Red Cross in the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. on May 21, Washington, D.C. on May 21, 18811881

• Barton first heard of the Barton first heard of the Swiss-inspired Swiss-inspired International Red Cross International Red Cross Movement while visiting Movement while visiting Europe following the Civil Europe following the Civil WarWar

• Returning home, she Returning home, she campaigned for an American campaigned for an American Red Cross society and for Red Cross society and for ratification of the Geneva ratification of the Geneva Convention protecting the Convention protecting the war-injured, which the war-injured, which the United States ratified in United States ratified in 1882 1882

Prior and During WW IPrior and During WW I• Prior to the First World War, the Red Cross Prior to the First World War, the Red Cross

introduced its first aid, water safety, and public introduced its first aid, water safety, and public health nursing programshealth nursing programs

• With the outbreak of war, the organization With the outbreak of war, the organization experienced phenomenal growthexperienced phenomenal growth

• The number of local chapters jumped from 107 in The number of local chapters jumped from 107 in 1914 to 3,864 in 1918 and membership grew from 1914 to 3,864 in 1918 and membership grew from 17,000 to more than 20 million adult and 11 million 17,000 to more than 20 million adult and 11 million Junior Red Cross membersJunior Red Cross members

• The public contributed $400 million in funds and The public contributed $400 million in funds and material to support Red Cross programs, including material to support Red Cross programs, including those for American and Allied forces and civilian those for American and Allied forces and civilian refugeesrefugees

• The Red Cross staffed hospitals and ambulance The Red Cross staffed hospitals and ambulance companies and recruited 20,000 registered nurses to companies and recruited 20,000 registered nurses to serve the militaryserve the military

• Additional Red Cross nurses came forward to combat Additional Red Cross nurses came forward to combat the worldwide influenza epidemic of 1918the worldwide influenza epidemic of 1918

Red Cross War EffortRed Cross War Effort• The Red Cross created a complex The Red Cross created a complex organizational structure to fulfill its organizational structure to fulfill its mission, consisting of boards, mission, consisting of boards, committees, offices, departments, and committees, offices, departments, and bureaus. In terms of the war effort, bureaus. In terms of the war effort, however, its functions fell into four however, its functions fell into four categories categories

• Service to the American armed forcesService to the American armed forces• Service to Allied military forces, Service to Allied military forces, particularly the French particularly the French

• Limited service to American and Allied Limited service to American and Allied prisoners of war prisoners of war

• Service to civilian victims of war, with Service to civilian victims of war, with an emphasis on the children of European emphasis on the children of Europe

Two Categories of Two Categories of NursesNurses

• Red Cross nurses worked side-by-Red Cross nurses worked side-by-side with Army Nurse Corps membersside with Army Nurse Corps members

• Different status, however: Red Different status, however: Red Cross nurses ineligible for Cross nurses ineligible for benefits if disabled; Army Nurse benefits if disabled; Army Nurse Corps Nurses committed Corps Nurses committed indefinitely, not two years like indefinitely, not two years like Red Cross Nurses; Army and Navy Red Cross Nurses; Army and Navy nurses only paramilitary status, nurses only paramilitary status, refused rank and benefits toorefused rank and benefits too

Women PhysiciansWomen Physicians• Similar difficultiesSimilar difficulties• Military only accepted Military only accepted them as civilians them as civilians without rankwithout rank

• American medical women American medical women responded by responded by organizing their own organizing their own hospitals, some of hospitals, some of which served the which served the French military where French military where women physicians were women physicians were accepted (British accepted (British women doctors accepted women doctors accepted by military tooby military too))

Army Signal CorpsArmy Signal Corps• More than 200 telephone operators women More than 200 telephone operators women • General John J. Pershing insisted women General John J. Pershing insisted women recruited to enable communications recruited to enable communications within the American Expeditionary Forcewithin the American Expeditionary Force

• ATT sought women who could speak French ATT sought women who could speak French and trained them to operate switchboardsand trained them to operate switchboards

• Women sworn in and given uniforms, but Women sworn in and given uniforms, but later realized they were not given later realized they were not given military statusmilitary status

• Called “Soldiers of the Switchboard” but Called “Soldiers of the Switchboard” but at war’s end, treated poorly. No at war’s end, treated poorly. No pensions until 1977pensions until 1977, when one living , when one living woman veteran finally recognizedwoman veteran finally recognized

Women YeomenWomen Yeomen• 1916, anticipating a 1916, anticipating a shortage of clerical shortage of clerical men, Secy of Navy men, Secy of Navy Josephus Daniels asked Josephus Daniels asked if there was a war if there was a war saying “yeomen” had to saying “yeomen” had to be male?be male?

• By that time in By that time in civilian life, civilian life, clerical work clerical work identified as femaleidentified as female

• 13,000 women enlisted 13,000 women enlisted in Navy; 300 in in Navy; 300 in MarinesMarines

Navy Yeomen—clerical Navy Yeomen—clerical workers, mostly assigned workers, mostly assigned

in U.S.in U.S.

Women Working at Home Women Working at Home FrontFront

• The armies of twentieth-century total war depended The armies of twentieth-century total war depended on women in new ways, not only within the army but on women in new ways, not only within the army but in the civilian workforce (and in addition to the in the civilian workforce (and in addition to the ongoing responsibilities of women for domestic, ongoing responsibilities of women for domestic, reproductive, and sexual workreproductive, and sexual work

• In 1914, feminist Carrie Chapman Catt warned that In 1914, feminist Carrie Chapman Catt warned that “[war falls on the women most heavily, and more so “[war falls on the women most heavily, and more so now than ever before” now than ever before”

• Both Britain and the United States mobilized Both Britain and the United States mobilized substantial numbers of women into war-related substantial numbers of women into war-related industries, and into the workplace generally to industries, and into the workplace generally to make male workers available for military usemake male workers available for military use

• These These arrangements,arrangements, although effective in boosting although effective in boosting the war effort, almost everywhere were the war effort, almost everywhere were cast as cast as temporarytemporary

• They used, rather than challenged, existing gender They used, rather than challenged, existing gender stereotypesstereotypes

Working Class Women and Working Class Women and Munitions WorkMunitions Work

• Munitions work offered Munitions work offered working-class women—for the working-class women—for the first time—independence, a first time—independence, a reliable income, even an reliable income, even an improved standard of living.improved standard of living.

• But But male employers and trade male employers and trade unionists brought them face-unionists brought them face-to-face with their to-face with their subordination as women within subordination as women within their own class, their own class, while while experiences with middle-class experiences with middle-class women co-workers and police women co-workers and police reminded them of their status reminded them of their status as working classas working class

• Nonetheless, the woman Nonetheless, the woman munitions worker was a munitions worker was a powerful symbol of modernity powerful symbol of modernity who challenged the gender who challenged the gender order through her patriotic order through her patriotic work and challenged class work and challenged class differences through her differences through her increased spending power, increased spending power, mobility, and changing social mobility, and changing social behaviorbehavior

Women’s Land ArmyWomen’s Land Army• Outside of military Outside of military

service, important war service, important war work to produce foodwork to produce food

• Several thousand Several thousand activists joined the activists joined the Woman’s Land Army Woman’s Land Army making farm work a making farm work a patriotic crusadepatriotic crusade

• Provided food for both Provided food for both military and civilian military and civilian populations here and populations here and abroadabroad

American Women’s Land American Women’s Land ArmyArmy

• U.S. government recognized importance U.S. government recognized importance of producing food tooof producing food too

• Women’s groups responded with letters Women’s groups responded with letters and telegrams, sending women to workand telegrams, sending women to work

• Housewives also responded to the Food Housewives also responded to the Food Administration’s request for food Administration’s request for food conservation with “wheatless” and conservation with “wheatless” and “meatless” days“meatless” days

• Summer of 1917, first groups of WLA Summer of 1917, first groups of WLA worked in variety of projects, worked in variety of projects, ploughing, harrowing, planting, ploughing, harrowing, planting, cultivating, thinning, hoeing, mowing, cultivating, thinning, hoeing, mowing, reaping, making fences, milking cowsreaping, making fences, milking cows

Women Assigned to UnitsWomen Assigned to Units

• Paramilitary styleParamilitary style• Recruited through state employment Recruited through state employment agencies, viluntary organizations, agencies, viluntary organizations, women’s clubs, alumnae associations, women’s clubs, alumnae associations, agricultural and trade schoolsagricultural and trade schools

• Magazine articles talked about the Magazine articles talked about the work, enticing more to joinwork, enticing more to join

• By 1918, President Wilson announced By 1918, President Wilson announced his approval saying “patriotic young his approval saying “patriotic young women’s work” was vital to war effortwomen’s work” was vital to war effort

• WLA set up in 38 statesWLA set up in 38 states

Northern California Northern California ExperienceExperience

• Located at Davis, CALocated at Davis, CA• Thronged with volunteers eager to workThronged with volunteers eager to work• Typical day: 5:15, reveille; drills, Typical day: 5:15, reveille; drills, roll calls, showers; tidying quarters; roll calls, showers; tidying quarters; 6:00 breakfast and packing lunches; 6:00 breakfast and packing lunches; 6:30 leave for fields to work 8-10 6:30 leave for fields to work 8-10 hours; 5:30 return to camp for dinner, hours; 5:30 return to camp for dinner, report for day, showers; 7:00 dinner report for day, showers; 7:00 dinner and free time; 9:30 taps and silence. and free time; 9:30 taps and silence. Free on SundaysFree on Sundays

Lasted 18 monthsLasted 18 months

• 15,000-20,000 workers placed in 30-48 15,000-20,000 workers placed in 30-48 statesstates

• At end of war, women never thankedAt end of war, women never thanked• In In England, got a rally with women in England, got a rally with women in uniforms, entertained with supper and uniforms, entertained with supper and concertconcert

• In Northern California, WLA faded away In Northern California, WLA faded away even though hundreds of workers had even though hundreds of workers had tilled 9 million acres of landtilled 9 million acres of land

• Major California newspapers never Major California newspapers never mentionedmentioned

Results of War EffortsResults of War Efforts

• Women gained political, economic Women gained political, economic and physical freedomand physical freedom

• Not only for themselves, but for Not only for themselves, but for future generationsfuture generations

• The women had joined with The women had joined with patriotism, adventure, enthusiasm patriotism, adventure, enthusiasm and dedicationand dedication

• Displayed teamwork, engaged in Displayed teamwork, engaged in cooperative work and living, cooperative work and living, developed skills for postwar developed skills for postwar activitiesactivities

SummarySummary• Women’s participation in the war was Women’s participation in the war was varied. They served as nurses, doctors, varied. They served as nurses, doctors, factory workers, against all kinds of factory workers, against all kinds of discriminationdiscrimination

• They They were wives and mothers on the home were wives and mothers on the home frontfront

• They helped refugees with families fleeing They helped refugees with families fleeing from the warfrom the war

• In spite of many hardships, the war In spite of many hardships, the war provided an opportunity for women to prove provided an opportunity for women to prove themselves as full citizensthemselves as full citizens

• After making many sacrifices during the After making many sacrifices during the war, women won the right to vote and made war, women won the right to vote and made many other personal and professional many other personal and professional advancements advancements