The Second World War Officially Turns the Tides:
Women in the Work Force
"American women entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers during World War II, as male enlistment left jobs open in the industrial labor force. Between
1940 and 1945, the female percentage of the U.S. workforce increased from 27 percent to nearly 37 percent, and by 1945 nearly one out of every four married
women worked outside the home. While women worked in a variety of positions previously closed to them during World War II, the aviation industry saw the
greatest increase in female workers. More than 310,000 women worked in the U.S. aircraft industry in 1943, making up 65 percent of the industry's total
workforce (compared to just 1 percent in the pre-war years)." - The WAC.com
1940 and 1945, the female percentage of the U.S. workforce increased from 27 percent to nearly 37 percent, and by 1945 nearly one out of every four married
women worked outside the home. While women worked in a variety of positions previously closed to them during World War II, the aviation industry saw the
greatest increase in female workers. More than 310,000 women worked in the U.S. aircraft industry in 1943, making up 65 percent of the industry's total
workforce (compared to just 1 percent in the pre-war years)." - The WAC.com
Women pilots have as much stamina and endurance … as male pilots doing similar work. Women pilots can safely fly as many hours per month as male pilots. —Jacqueline Cochran, Director of Women Pilots "Report on Women's Pilot Program" (1944)
"The demand put on American industry by the war machine was massive. With some ten million men at war and the rest of the male population at work, it was clear the only way America would be able to win the war was if it enlisted large numbers of women for employment. America desired its women to go to work to build the planes, tanks, and ships needed to fight Hitler. World War II, more so than any other war, was a war based on production, the solution, it was time to bring American women into industry. So the government teamed up with industry, the media, and women's organizations in an effort to urge them to join the labor force: their agenda: telling women it was their "patriotic duty" to go to work. But loyalty to the Nation was not the only incentive that the War Manpower Commission used to lure women into the workforce. The plan for many recruitment programs used the idea of increased economic prosperity to attract women into the workforce. In fact some posters went so far as to glamorize war work, as well as stress the importance women working in non-traditional jobs.
As a result of the propaganda American women, whether patriotism, economic benefits, independence, social contact, or requirements motivated them, joined the workforce at never before seen rates. In July 1944, when the war was at its peak over 19 million women were employed in the United States, more than ever before."- Dallas Bogan (on AmericanWomen During the War) from History of Campbell County Tennessee
As a result of the propaganda American women, whether patriotism, economic benefits, independence, social contact, or requirements motivated them, joined the workforce at never before seen rates. In July 1944, when the war was at its peak over 19 million women were employed in the United States, more than ever before."- Dallas Bogan (on AmericanWomen During the War) from History of Campbell County Tennessee