American Women and World War II
A Documents Based Question
By Pamela McKiernan
Directions: The following questions are based on the following documents. The questions are designed to test your ability to work with historical documents. Part A requires you to analyze and interpret the documents and answer the related questions. Part B requires you to develop an essay that incorporates the documents in Part A, as well as your own knowledge.
Some of the documents have been edited for clarity and length; base your answer(s) on the document as presented. As you analyze the documents, consider both the source of the document and the author's point of view.
Historical Context: As the United States entered World War II, the societal expectations of American women expanded dramatically. The job of wife and mother remained in the forefront but the United States government organized a propaganda campaign to increase the participation of American women outside the home in their effort to win the war. For example, women were encouraged to work outside the home, utilize their spending habits and even alter their hygiene routines, all in order to bolster the war effort. Despite the enormous responsibilities placed on American women during this period, World War II provided women many positive opportunities never before available to their gender.
Question: Discuss the various appeals made to American women and how they related to the war effort. Examine and explain in detail the new opportunities presented to women in the World War II era.
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