Women At Work Analysis

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In “Women at Work,” an article adapted from the work of La Verne Bradley published in the August 1944 edition of National Geographic Magazine, the strength and perseverance of women during war times is explored. Prior to World War II, the workplace was seen as “a no woman’s land” (Bradley, 144, p. 83). During World War II woman began filling their men’s’ shoes more than ever before as they filed into factories (Bradley, 1944, p. 83). “At the same time [as preparing and helping their country with the war], [women] worked hard to keep their homes or set up new ones” (Bradley, 1944, p. 75).
Men’s’ Attitudes …show more content…

82). Even as “[women] manipulated the machinery of war,” men doubted them and they gained little respect (Bradley, 1944, p. 75). The belief that women were not capable of such labor permeated the workplaces and drove them even harder (Bradley, 1944, p. 83). Women working in the “Acoustics and Special Problems Division of the Naval Ordnance Laboratory at the Washington Naval Yard [came] about as close as any women to going to sea with the Navy” (Bradley, 1944, p. 78). Even though these women served alongside men in Key West, New London, Miami, and Narragansett Bay they were not allowed onto naval ships because of their sex. This limited the work they could do during the day and caused women to have to analyze the data they collected at night (Bradley, 1944, p. 78). These, “along with dozens of other all-male jobs, they took in stride” as women in the workforce became forces to be reckoned with (Bradley, 1944, p. …show more content…

She is the home-front equivalent of G.I. Joe. She represents any woman defense worker. And for many women, she 's an example of a strong, competent foremother” (Harvey, 2010). ‘Rosie’ broke free from the traditional gender role of the time period. With a riveting run in hand and a dirty face, she heavily contradicted the image of a prim housewife. Her masculine arms, calloused hands, lack of a wedding band, and overalls signify that she is powerful and worthy of the position that she holds (Harvey, 2010). Anne Hollman, a forty six year old Amazonian woman, was a chief fighter plane builder for the Army during World War II (Bradley, 1944, p.76). During both World War I and World War II, she worked as a machine operator in a knitting mill. When World War II started, Hollman was glad to get back in the swing of things and readily picked up her welding gear. Even with spending long hours on her feet flash welding the wings of fighter planes, Hollman had no complaints and loved her job (Bradley, 1944, p.