If some women worked outside the home, they would usually take jobs as secretaries, receptionists, or department store clerks. Not only were most occupations reserved for men, but also men were paid almost five times more than women for the same tasks. Some states even prohibit married women from working and taking jobs. However, all of this changed, once America entered World War I. Men started to be sent overseas to fight the war in millions, and women stepped into civilian and military jobs that the men left behind. This meant women had an increasingly high number of jobs and were able to get equal opportunities for jobs that were usually reserved for men. This opportunity is not only offered in the job market but also in the military as well. Prior to the war, women's involvement in the armed forces was limited to nursing and clerical positions. However, as the demand for manpower increased, women were given the opportunity to join the military and were recruited into non-combat roles to free up male soldiers for frontline …show more content…
According to the Duquesne University School of Nursing, there were 59,000 or more American nurses who served in World War I, and initially, there were only 1,000 nurses who enlisted during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Debatably the most important role women took during World War I, was joining the labor force. As millions of men joined the armed forces, the labor force at home faced a shortage of workers, leading to a critical need for women to fill the gaps in industrial production. Women entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers, taking on jobs in factories, shipyards, and manufacturing plants. A large portion of women were attracted to the workforce at this time due to the large wages and equal opportunity to secure jobs. Iconic figures such as "Rosie the Riveter" symbolized the hardworking women who labored in munitions factories and other industrial settings to produce materials that were essential to and for