Women in Wartime

Women played a large role both at home and on the front during World War II. On May 15, 1942, the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps was established. This gave members status and salary, but fewer benefits than male soldiers. The WAAC was comprised of women volunteers that served in noncombat positions. Later, in July 1943, the 'auxiliary' status was dropped, and WACs were granted all the Army benefits. Women in the WAC worked as nurses, ambulance drivers, radio operators, electricians, and pilots, but did not participate in any direct combat.

Due to the war, industries and other businesses were short of male workers. Contractors then began to hire women to work in factories, though many believed that women lacked the stamina to work in factories. But when women proved themselves capable for the job, the number of female workers increased to 6 million, about a third of the workers in the United States. Despite these gains, women still earned sixty percent of what men earned.

Grace