Attitudes of women during WW2 comparison

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Attitudes of women during WW2 comparison

Similarities

  • Women in WW2 working - 5 million more the 1940 in heavy industry, transport, farming, helping in army etc.
  • However, focused on helping the war effort as an extension of womanly duties to husbands/ boyfriends/ sons- Rosie the Riveter image still very feminised
  • Compared to other periods 75% still wanted to remain in employment in 1945- gained confidence in themselves
  • Sexual liberation (evolution of lesbian subculture) and increased confidence
  • But men took jobs back after war, and still a wage gap
  • Women on Western Front aware of double burden of doing household chores and work on the farm - but gained respect from men
  • Similar to WW1 where 1 million women worked in industry, also increased their confidence in doing hard jobs
  • Similar sexual liberation in 1920s (only in cities) - flappers smoking, drinking etc., more access to birth control
  • Also in 1960s- rise of feminism, NOW campaigns, only 25% women said they wanted to be housewives in 1975
  • In 1969, wage gap higher than in 1963, only earning 79% men's earnings
  • NOW ended sex-segregated job adverts in 1973
  • 1970s sexual liberation, 1/7 women on the pill, Roe vs. Wade 1973 legalised abortions

Differences

  • Gilded Age, although saw women more politically involved, focused on domestic e.g. Hull House Project and Temperance
  • 1920s more women in work but limited to certain sphere e.g. secretarial work
  • Whereas most women expected/ wanted men to take back their jobs after WW1, after WW2 women were more determined to stay
  • Great Depression era women discouraged from having jobs (82% thought women shouldn't work) as most men didn't even have jobs
  • Even New Deal more focused on getting men back to work, FLSA didn't create an equal wage and unions opposed to female membership
  • 1950s return to social conservatism (Red Scare push for conformity), baby boom and women's traditional role as mothers and husbands, women also didn't need to work due to economic prosperity
  • In 1980s 34% women claimed to be 'born again' evangelists- viewed women's place as in the home as God's plan, advocated by Phyllis Schafly

Overall comparison

Women encouraged by government to move outside their domestic sphere into the hard manual labour of men, the first time women themselves gained pride/confidence and didn't want to return to domestic sphere. Had been seen to some degree in West and in WW1 but not to the same degree.However- not long term, quickly returned to conformity during 1950s, but swung to demanding vast changes in 1960s-70s arguably as a result of women's new found confidence.

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