Trained Like the Men

 

Aviation Machinist

 

During World War II, the only way people knew about women in the military and what they did was by photos like the one above. Many thought that women held only the positions in communications, nursing, and secretarial work. Little did they know that women played just as big as role on bases at the stateside that men had done. With the men gone, women had to slide into the positions that were still needed to be filled so that the United States had some protection back here at home. This led to women filling jobs like working in aviation, being mechanics, and learning different strategies in order to protect our country when the time came. The above photo shows Violet Falkum turning over the engine of a Pratt and Whitney R-1340. It was pictures like these that were put onto recruiting posters that encouraged women to enlist and to help their country out in a time of need.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Still the Weaker Sex

Poster Women

 

This was the cover for the Women's Journal Magazine in the year of 1944. The statement was extremely racy for this period of time because women were still expected to be the soft spoken women who kept the house tidy for their husband. They were not suppose to be the ones who wanted to challenge the ever changing gender roles. Even though women had proved themselves over and over again through all ranks and positions in the military they still were not perceived as stronger people. In the magazine the statement “Many of us may be serving shoulder to shoulder with America’s fighting men—but we’re still the weaker sex, and it’s still up to us to appear as alluring and lovely as possible.” Despite the fact that women were able to hold these positions, they were satisfied knowing that they were still perceived as beautiful. 

Women in Vogue

 

Library of Congress

 

During the 1940's women relied heavily on magazines for all aspects of their life. From the way they dressed to what meals they should prepare for certain occasions, magazines were the go to item. Since magazines played a huge role for women during this time, having a woman pilot featured on the front of a magazine like Vogue was a big deal. This was something to be idolized for women because this was not the typical cover for Vogue that had the model with the hair and makeup done like society expected. The cover broke all these barriers and featured that patriotic woman who was willing to fight for her country. By having Vogue adverrise this "new" idea of a women is what sparked many of the gender role changes that women were going through during this period of time. 

 

 

 

 

War Poster

 

Library of Congress

 

Recruiting posters were a huge way to have women gain the interest of joining any of the new branches of government for women that had been recently written into law. So many women were used to obtaining the role as a loving mother and wife, but now with the men away they could be focused on taking on new responsibilities. During this time women's roles were shifting towards being more active not only in society but in the workforce as well. This was okay to happen because the changing gender roles were due to reflect a national emergency and the fact that women were needed in all aspects at the stateside. With posters like these being posted all over, women were encouraged to take up positions in things like the Women's Army Corps. By also advertising patriotism in the poster they were not only encouraged to step up the plate to help themselves but also to show that they loved our country and were dedicated to it. 



 



 



Nurse Corps During World War II

 

 

Nurses Corps

 

The establishment of Army nurses have been around since 1901 and Navy Nurse Corps since 1908. The field had expanded over the years into having 59,000 Army nurses and 11,000 Navy nurses by the end of World War II. This amount of people  that were trained to be nurses all came to help when Pearl Harbor was bombed. The vast amount of nurses working in Hawaii during the bombing came to the rescue of thousands of injured soldiers requiring medical attention. These nurses were also stationed overseas with soldiers in places like the Philippines. The above photo shows a nurse aiding a soldier in the Philippines as part as their jobs. Some of these women were put into areas where war had taken place to aide soldiers while others worked on bases that helped out with sickness. During the war, men were not the only ones to be taken as Prisoners of War, women nurses were also known to be taken and kept.

Shirley Slade on LIFE Magazine

 

WASPS

 

This magazine cover marks a huge accomplishment for women during their participation of World War II. Shirley Slade was a pilot in training for the WASPS and served as a poster girl for their regiment during this time. Many females saw this cover and inspired them to actively seek a way to enlist into the group in order to become like Shirley. LIFE magazine during this time was extremely important because so many people read the magazine. This showed that women were just as capable as men to be flying in planes like the B-17 that were carrying ammunition to help with the war efforts. It also shined a light on the active role that women were playing during this time and informed those reading that every person can play a drastic role during the war.

Women as Pilots During World War II

Women as Pilots

 

During the war, the United States was faced with a shortage of pilots, so in order to help with this, the government allowed for the training of women in this area. These women were known as Women Airforce Service Pilots or in others words for short WASPS. About 1,100 women were recruited for the job of getting trained to fly loaded planes filled with ammunition and were capable of firing weapons. Despite the fact that these women had the same dangers to face as men they did not receive the same compensated pay if they were hurt or they died. Despite this, many women were willing to fill the shoes of men to serve for their country. Some paid the $500 to receive a pilot's license and then enlisted to serve one of the most active duties that were available to women during this time. The program was cancelled after two years and only a few women were able to find piloting jobs after the fact, so many returned to their family farms or started to have families.