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The United States War Manpower Commission's Expectations For Women During WWII

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During World War II, the United States drafted many American men for national defense. In fact, over the course of said war, more than 10 million men were instated – most of them joining the military (Vergun). Thus, many jobs became open when men were suddenly sent overseas, providing women, who were the ones mostly left in the country, the responsibility and opportunity to fill those empty positions. The United States War Manpower Commission’s wartime poster from 1944 entitled “Women : There’s Work to Be Done and a War to Be Won... : Now!” conveys the progress of women’s involvement outside traditional domestic spheres and their growing societal importance as their contributions in maintaining the country’s industries were crucial during WWII. …show more content…

Traditionally, women have been boxed to perform solely within the domestic spheres of their private homes, including cooking, cleaning, and housekeeping (“The Emergence of “Women’s Sphere””). However, with the United States War Manpower Commission’s illustration of women wielding hammers, carrying pipes, and managing operations, it becomes apparent that women from that time are challenging the conventional gender notions by involving themselves in manual labor. From these images, the shift in women’s roles is emphasized in its depiction of women being capable of doing and succeeding in work outside their homes. Moreover, the poster’s message “There's work to be done and a war to be won...now!” acts to persuade women to join the workforce, which allows them to simultaneously contribute to the war effort. This especially shows the growing importance of women in society, since the urgent text “now!” emphasizes the necessity of women to apply within industries. By framing women’s participation as pivotal to day-to-day functions and to winning the war, the poster ultimately shows the increasing value of women in

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