In "From Coveralls to Zoot Suits: The Lives of Mexican American Women on the World War II Home Front," Elizabeth R. Escobedo examines the experiences of Mexican American women during World War II. Escobedo argues that Mexican American women faced both challenges and opportunities during the war. On the one hand, the war created new job opportunities for women, including Mexican American women, as men went off to fight. Many Mexican American women found work in defense industries such as aircraft manufacturing, which helped to improve their economic status.
In this article, Valerie Matsumoto describes the lives of Japanese American women during World War II and examines the effects that the internment camp experiences had on these women. Matsumoto argues that good and bad things were brought about because of the internment camps. Japanese American women were discriminated against, they were victims of racism, and they also faced traumatic family strain. Although these women’s stay at the internment camp was a living hell, their experiences there brought about significant changes in their lives; for the better good. From women having more leisure time, new opportunities for women such as travel work and education and better yet equal pay.
Even some women would go so far to gather money to put clothes on the soldier’s back or sew their clothes. Others would travel with the men, whether it is camp followers, who were women who washed, cooked, nursed, sew, gather supplies, and even in some cases be sex partners or spies. Women dressed up as men and changed their name to fight as a soldier, or General’s wives who just wanted to be with their husbands like Martha Washington or Caty Greene. Not only do we see the point of the war through the women’s eyes that resisted British rule, but also from the eyes of Frederika von Residesel whose husband, Fritz Residesel, who fought for Britain. Indian women also felt the effects of the war, because they thought that “if America won their social roles would be changed and their power within their communities diminished” (Berkin.107).
In the address, “The Role of American Women in Wartime”, Clare Boothe Luce, an American congresswoman, advocates for the American women’s contribution to the war efforts at the women's banking committee. Although Luce’s speech opens with a controversial and condemning topic, Luce further explicates it, recognizing the struggles and difficulties that must be dealt with. Luce employs contrasting and critical tone, repetition, and imagery to highlight women’s needed sacrifices for the sake of America’s victory. Luce introduces with a contrasting and critical tone in order to emphasize that an adjustment must occur for the female system in America.
Wives, mothers, and daughters, of Patriot soldiers were left to operate businesses and keep up with the duties of farms. Other women followed their soldiers to the battlefield. Though their presence around the army men was oftentimes controversial - they were commonly regarded as nuisances - having women around to clean and cook, along with being companions, benefited the American army. Women that wanted to fill the boots that their husbands left, or step up to the plate on their own, would disguise themselves as men so they could participate in battle. Post-war women’s roles were seemingly regarded the same as they had been before.
Escobedo’s book sheds light on the contributions of Mexican American women to the war effort and their struggles for equality and recognition. This perspective is often overlooked in traditional narratives of World War II, which tend to focus on the experiences of the white men. Another aspect that stands out is the author’s use of oral histories and personal narratives. By including the voices of Mexican American women who are often overlooked in histories of the war. By exploring the experiences of Mexican American women who worked in defense industries, volunteered for the Red Cross, and participated in other forms of civic engagement, Elizabeth R. Escobedo shows how these women challenged traditional gender roles and racial stereotypes, and gained greater economic and social mobility.
The soldiers could not have gotten through the war without the emotional support from the woman. The site acknowledges “faithful women doing volunteer work to support the war effort, keeping home fires burning, waiting for their men to return... Certainly, during the war the women obligingly did their "duty" -- they wrote letters to their husbands, brothers, and friends; they attended USO dances and talked to lonely soldiers. But there is no denying that there was a new sense of freedom. ”(Strom and Woods).
World War II was a very new experience for the average american. The United States had a very significant role in the war.. Americans at home did not experience the murders and brutal scenes as other countries saw it. However, the changes at home due to the war altered America in a big way. One of the biggest changes was that of the average american woman.
It told realistic tales of the female’s role in the war, as important supporters. This book is “new” because Berkin wanted to gather the perspectives of women from all the different classes and race into a single collection. Other sources have had these stories separately, but by putting them all together, the reader can contrast the differences and similarities within one read. Berkin also goes in-depth about the events each women had to go through from different regions of the colonies and from different backgrounds. The author doesn’t hesitate to introduce ladies of different ideas and personalities.
During the war women had enjoyed the feeling being independent. The feeling of losing the little power they had during the war was devastating. As the United States was becoming a nation the ideology of separate spheres became more clear and women and men were treated completely differently, “American women never manage the outward concerns of the family, or conduct a business or take a part in political life; nor are they, on the other hand, ever compelled t perform the rough labor of the fields, or make any of those laborious exertions, which demand the exertion of physical strength. No families are so poor, as t form an exception to this rule.” (Dumenil 156).
Women were well suited for providing nourishment and necessities for the army due to their skills obtained by their accustomed housework. “...the American army often recruited the many female camp followers to fill these jobs” (Brooks 2013, para. 17). They had slowly began to achieve recognition in society, especially war. It was then, that woman had begun to silently “protest” on having the same equal opportunity as men. During the war, women created a role for themselves to side amongst the male soldiers: a secret soldier.
Twentieth century America after World War I continued to endure changes that surrounded society, and their fellow allies in power. The changes that the United States endured continues from the issues of race, immigration, war, modernity, and the economic depression; but were now under the umbrella of the Great Depression, gender relations and class conflict, as well as World War II. This umbrella mirrored the societal concerns within the United States from 1932 to 1945, for families were becoming homeless because of the depression; which caused women to step into the workforce as the years went on to support their families. After WWI seventy-one percent of families were living below the poverty level and the productivity was lacking consumers around the time (10/3 CD). Furthermore, women in the workplace helped them gain economic, social and cultural independence during and after WWII; which helped the economy stay afloat.
Jessica Montgomery History 101 American History to 1877 Wendi Bryant September 16, 2014 Changes to America from The Civil War Nobody wants to believe that wars are necessary or that innocent lives need to be shed in pursuit of freedom. But regardless of if one finds a war necessary or not, wars can benefit communities and countries in many ways for years to come.
American Women during World War 2 had many responsibilities at war, work, and home. But they did not have many equal rights compared to the rest of the society. The women’s rights and responsibilities topic is very interesting. One is understanding and knowing the history about the responsibilities women had to do and how hard working they were. This topic is very important because there was a big change in women’s rights and responsibilities during World War 2.
In the nineteenth century, American women did not have the same rights as they do in today’s society. They were expected to stay at home, raise children, and keep their husbands happy. When the Civil War began, however, their roles drastically changed. Because men of both sides were going off to help with the war, there was a growing need of workers, nurses, volunteers, and even soldiers. Women were there to fill the role to support both their families and their country.
