Introduction

World War II was a global war that took place between the years of 1939 to 1945. This war was an international conflict, involving over 30 nations across the globe. The aftermath of this war would change the ways in which many of these nations operated economically, socially, politically, and cooperatively. The United States of America formally joined World War II in 1941, following the bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japanese forces.  (CNN Library 2017)

During World War II every citizen of the United States was encouraged to contribute to the war effort. However, based on the different positions of citizens during this time period, they contributed to the war efforts in different ways. One factor which impacted the ways in which one would contribute to the efforts of World War II is that of  gender.

While both men and women made integral contributions to the war efforts of the United States during WW II, the roles each gender took on during this time period differed. During WW II , the Selective Service recruited male citizens at rapid rates; young, able-bodied, and unmarried men were those most often targeted for recruitment. This active recruitment, as well as the voluntary participation within the U.S. military, has shaped the narrative of men in World War II: they were most often being referred to in context of direct military combat and deployment contributions. (Schrader and Wotipka 2011) In contrast, women were more limited in their opportunities to participate in direct war combat and deployment. “Women were actively recruited for voluntary military service, but their duties would be limited to stereotypically feminine jobs.” (Hall, Orzada and Lopez-Gydosh 2015) Due to this restriction, women were encouraged by the United States government to contribute to war efforts in different ways. With the large migration of men in the United States travelling overseas to participate directly in military combat, women were able to fill civilian job positions left vacant, including positions which would’ve been closed off to them prior to WW II. (McEuen 2016)

Evidence of these different roles taken on during World War II can be noted in a number of texts. In this exhibit we will examine artifacts relevant to the state of Massachusetts which can also attest to these differed contributions in World War II based on gender.

Works Cited

CNN Library. 2017. World War II Fast Facts. August 17. Accessed December 17, 2017. http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/09/world/world-war-ii-fast-facts/index.html.

Hall, Martha L, Belinda T Orzada, and Dilia Lopez-Gydosh. 2015. "American Women's Wartime Dress: Sociocultural Ambiguity Regarding Women's Roles During World War II." The Journal of American Culture 232 - 242.

McEuen, Melissa A. 2016. "Women, Gender, and World War II." American History. June. Accessed December 17, 2017. http://americanhistory.oxfordre.com/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199329175.001.0001/acrefore-9780199329175-e-55.

Schrader, Corbin E, and Christine M Wotipka. 2011. " History Transformed? Gender in World War II Narratives in U.S. History Textbooks, 1956-2007." Feminist Formations 68 - 88.