Women and World War II

Teaching American History Grant

November 4, 2010

Gender Equity and the US history curriculum

Periodization(From Crocco & Libresco, 2007)

Devise a timeline of 20th century US history that does not rely on wars as key markers for the century.

Periodization(From Crocco & Libresco, 2007)

Devise a timeline of 20th century US history that does not rely on wars as key markers for the century.

Was this difficult?

What other events, episodes, and developments did you turn to in place of military history to structure your timeline?

“They often perform quieter, less obviously heroic feats, and endure boredom or sometimes humiliation. They learn to master the art of finding private enthusiasm for their unacknowledged deeds of daring, and personal meaning in their unrecognized acts of triumph.”

-Yellin, 2004, p.137

Our Mothers’ War

• “Own terms” with own words– Used against the backdrop of societal

messages

• Presents complexity of female experience

• Intensifies “double standards” with personal experiences (I.e. p.159)

Women’s Army Corps (WAC’s)

• Around 150,000 served

• Women could “free up” men for combat

• No weapons

• Variety of jobs

• Accepted African-American women from the onset

Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency

Services(WAVES)

• Navy

• 86,000 served starting in July 1942

• Variety of jobs

• Did not admit African-American women until October 1944, fewer than 100

Semper Paratus, Always Ready (SPAR)

• Coast Guard

• Over 11,000 served

• Shore duty only, until the end of war

• Did not admit African-American women until March 1945, only 5 total

Marines

• No official acronym (Femarines, Glamarines, Submarines, BAM’s)

• 20,000 women served

• Parachute riggers, aviation mechanics, typists, drivers, clerks, photographers, accountants

• Elizabeth Arden, Montezuma Red

• Did not allow African Americans until after WWII

Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP)

• Around 1,100 total, 38 killedl

• Civilian status

• Freed men for combat

• Ferried planes, tested repaired planes, towed targets

• Never allowed minority women

• Disbanded in 1944

• Veteran status in 1977

Nurses• Less stigma, backlash

• Army 1901, Navy 1908

• Civilian status until 1920 (Army), 1942 (Navy)

• Army Nurse Corp admitted 56 African American women starting in 1941

• POW’s

• Hospital ships (i.e. USS Comfort)

• Flight nurses– 1, 176,000 evacuated, only 46 died in flight

Red Cross/ Volunteers• 3.5 million women in Red Cross

• All college educated, 25 years & older

• Blood banks, military hospitals (rolled 2.5 billion bandages), morale boosters

• Often closest women to front

• 7,000 overseas staff, highest mortality rate

Land Army

• 1.1% female farmers before the war

• 13% by 1942

• Placed 400,000 urban and suburban women to work on farms

• Around 400,000 more recruited by farmers directly