War Work

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Rosie the Riveter

Women's roles in the labor force were greatly expanded during World War II. Women took over jobs previously dominated by men and integrated nearly every field. After the war, the question would not be "can" a woman do the job, but "should" a woman do the job. Women proved themselves as mechanics, scientists, pilots, factory workers, and much more. They flew every plane off the line as part of the Women's Air Service Pilots. They nursed injured soldiers and were captured and killed in war. Their contributions afforded the United States  success in both theaters of the war.

Anderson, Karen.  Wartime Women: Sex Roles, Family Relations, and the Status of Women During World War II. (New York: Berkley Books, 2001).

Wise, Nancy Baker and Christy Wise.  A Mouthful of Rivets: Women at Work in World War II. (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1994).

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Aleda Lutz, first U.S. woman to be killed in action in WWII