To what extent was the US involvement in the Second World War responsible for improvements in the
position of women in the years 1945-1960?
Intro:
US involvement in WW2 was partly responsible for improvements in the positon of women between 1945
and 1960 as it saw an increase in the number of women in employment because of changes in society’s
attitudes towards worning women and the training and opportunites that they hadH ooweverp there were
other factors which improved the positon of women including the economic boom and suburban livingH In
order to evaluate the extent to which the second world war improved the positon of livingp we must loon at
the ratep extent and nature of changeH When looning at these thingsp it is clear that US involvement in the
second world war was the most signifcant factor in improving the positon of women between 1945 and
1960H
Paragraph 1: WW2
- The war had seen an increase in women in employment to tane on previously male jobs and they
received training which they could use post-war
- People and society’s attitudes towards worning women changed (fewer people thought women
shouldn’t worn)
o Although lower than pre-warp percentage of people who thought women shouldn’t worn did
increase steadily during this period
- There was federally funded childcare for married mothers who wanted to worn although this was
ended in 1946
- ooweverp afer the warp men wanted their jobs bacn and many women were not re-employed
Paragraph 2: Economic boom
- An economic boom meant there were more jobs available which meant there were more
opportunites for women
o More people could aford to have domestc maidsscleaners again which meant there was
demand form women in the wornforce
- The economic boom was a result of WW2
Paragraph 3: Suburban living
- The economic boom had led to a building boom and more afordable housing being built in suburbs
- Women in the suburbs had more free tme on their hands because of domestc servants and labour-
saving devices (washing machines etcH)
o This howeverp didn’t necessarily lead to an increase in employment as it was a lifestyle
advertsed as desirable for women
o Many women adopted traditonal roles again as housewives and mothers
- It made the situaton worse for women in cites who were stucn in a downward spiral and had to
worn exceptonally hard to change their situatonH
Conclusion:
Although post-world war twop there was a steady increase in people thinning that women shouldn’t worn
and many women returned to lifestyles which adopted more traditonal rolesp the US involvement didp
overallp improve the positon of womenH It provided training and experience for women which meant that
more opportunites were available to them and this is evident in that there were more women in
employment afer WW2 than before itH In additon to thisp there was a signifcant diference in society’s
attitudes to worning women before and afer the war which is most important because it shows that people
are willing to accept changes towards women and their positon in societyH The economic boom did improve
the positon of women slightly however this can be linned to the war as it came about as a result of it and
suburban living had very litle impact on the positon of womenp by maning a more traditonal lifestyle seem
desirableH
position of women in the years 1945-1960?
Intro:
US involvement in WW2 was partly responsible for improvements in the positon of women between 1945
and 1960 as it saw an increase in the number of women in employment because of changes in society’s
attitudes towards worning women and the training and opportunites that they hadH ooweverp there were
other factors which improved the positon of women including the economic boom and suburban livingH In
order to evaluate the extent to which the second world war improved the positon of livingp we must loon at
the ratep extent and nature of changeH When looning at these thingsp it is clear that US involvement in the
second world war was the most signifcant factor in improving the positon of women between 1945 and
1960H
Paragraph 1: WW2
- The war had seen an increase in women in employment to tane on previously male jobs and they
received training which they could use post-war
- People and society’s attitudes towards worning women changed (fewer people thought women
shouldn’t worn)
o Although lower than pre-warp percentage of people who thought women shouldn’t worn did
increase steadily during this period
- There was federally funded childcare for married mothers who wanted to worn although this was
ended in 1946
- ooweverp afer the warp men wanted their jobs bacn and many women were not re-employed
Paragraph 2: Economic boom
- An economic boom meant there were more jobs available which meant there were more
opportunites for women
o More people could aford to have domestc maidsscleaners again which meant there was
demand form women in the wornforce
- The economic boom was a result of WW2
Paragraph 3: Suburban living
- The economic boom had led to a building boom and more afordable housing being built in suburbs
- Women in the suburbs had more free tme on their hands because of domestc servants and labour-
saving devices (washing machines etcH)
o This howeverp didn’t necessarily lead to an increase in employment as it was a lifestyle
advertsed as desirable for women
o Many women adopted traditonal roles again as housewives and mothers
- It made the situaton worse for women in cites who were stucn in a downward spiral and had to
worn exceptonally hard to change their situatonH
Conclusion:
Although post-world war twop there was a steady increase in people thinning that women shouldn’t worn
and many women returned to lifestyles which adopted more traditonal rolesp the US involvement didp
overallp improve the positon of womenH It provided training and experience for women which meant that
more opportunites were available to them and this is evident in that there were more women in
employment afer WW2 than before itH In additon to thisp there was a signifcant diference in society’s
attitudes to worning women before and afer the war which is most important because it shows that people
are willing to accept changes towards women and their positon in societyH The economic boom did improve
the positon of women slightly however this can be linned to the war as it came about as a result of it and
suburban living had very litle impact on the positon of womenp by maning a more traditonal lifestyle seem
desirableH
