WWII: Women's Opportunities For Women

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While WWII is a horrific period, it opens up opportunities for women both in the military and on the homefront. For the first time in America, women can make a big difference in the outcome of a war. Before this war women are housewives and are urged to stay home and be good mothers. During WWII, this all changes as women step up to the plate and join the military, take previously male-dominated jobs, and even make sacrifices at home to help their country and support the Allies in the war. Poisonous gas, bombing planes, and brutal combat are just the tip of the iceberg of a devastated Europe in the 1940s. Hitler had Europe under his thumb; controlling and destroying whatever and whoever he wished came easily to him and his fascist ethics. Victory …show more content…
Before this war, nursing was the only job that women could do in the military. In May of 1942, the WAAC, which stands for Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, becomes the first women’s special division of the war when the bill to create it is signed by President Roosevelt. In September of 1943, WAAC becomes WAC, as the “auxiliary” is taken out. WAC women are deployed mainly to three parts of the army. The first section is The Army Air Forces, where they are usually weather observers and repair women. The second section is The Army Service Forces, where they are frequently photographers, operators, and mechanics. The last section is the Army Ground Forces, where they commonly take secretarial jobs and jobs in motor pools. Although these jobs seem unimportant, they are actually crucial in the upkeep of the army. The First WAC training camp is called Fort Des Moines, and is located in Iowa. The women here go through almost the same intense training as the men in the army did. In July 1942, WAVES, which stands for Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service, is the second major women’s special division created. This special division is a part of the navy, and over the course of WWII, about 86,000 women join WAVES. These women make weather observations, direct air traffic, are metalsmiths, truck drivers, decoders, and cooks. All of these are extremely important, especially directing air traffic, as there are many planes flying through the war-ridden skies. Training camps for this division are usually set up on college campuses. The third special division for women, WASP, or Women’s Airforce Service Pilots, is created in February 1943 when two other special divisions merge. The two divisions that merge are called WFTD, which stands for Women Flying Training Detachment, and WAFS, which stands for Women Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron. Although WASP never gains military status, it is
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