Why Women's Roles Changed

Paper Summary:

A review of the changing roles of women during the last century from getting the right to vote in 1919 to the current gender roles for women.This paper illustrates how the changing gender roles are viewed by society and what kind of hardships were faced. It shows how the two World Wars forced women's rights into the front line.

From the Paper:

"World War I was a tumultuous time in American history. It was the first major war that the United States became involved in with Europe. Yet, bitter wounds were still healing from the Civil War fought approximately fifty years earlier. When the outbreak of World War I began, the United States felt it would be prudent to stay, at first, out of the war. However after the loss of several powerful European countries the United States was forced to enter the war. While most of the soldiers that fought in the War were men, a great majority of them included women. Previously, women were rarely allowed positions near battle. Only women nurses were allowed near the battle lines, but few if any, were allowed to pick up a weapon. World War I marked a change in the way women were viewed in the military. A record number of women participated in the war effort in a variety of aspects, from soldiers to entertainers. "Twenty- five thousand American women tool their talents, energy, and concern for humanity to war torn Europe as nurses, dentists, dietitians, occupational and physical therapists, administrators, secretaries, drivers, entertainers, canteen workers, interpreters, pilots, soldiers, journalists, and telephone operators." (Schneider 183) Previously, women were not allowed to actively participate in the war effort. The emergence of women in the battlefield set a precedence that allowed women to participate in the wars to follow. Furthermore, a more important outcome of the participation of women in war, was that it showed men that women were capable of accomplishing tasks that were otherwise thought of as only "men's work" starting a chain-reaction that percolated to other vices of society as well. Thus, World War I changed the role that women played in a society at war. Consequently, many women started enlisting in certain branches of service like the navy, air force, and army. Despite a record number of women who enlisted in the military many were met with staunch opposition from military personnel who did not want women fighting in the war. However, there was a great deal of officers who did not mind having women in their ranks and thus recruited them wholeheartedly. "The Navy simply ignored The War Department dissenters and quickly recruited women. Nearly thirteen thousand women enlisted in the Navy and The Marine Corps as the same status as men and wore a uniform blouse with insignia. These were the first women in the U.S. to be admitted to full military rank and status."(Women in World War One). Prior to this time period it would be difficult for men to even conceive women in the military, but because of the turmoil of this age women were allowed into military positions. Consequently, the admittance of women in battle with men changed the roles that women played during war forever. No longer would women be thought of as only child-bearers; they could have some equality with men during times of war."

More papers on Why Women's Roles Changed:

• Essay # 68625 : "Women in Combat"
• Research Paper # 28402 : "Women in Western Religions"
• Book Review # 128610 : "Women and the American Frontier"

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