WWII+Research+and+Symposium+SCHR

__3 Primary Sources__
//Marine Corps Women's Reserve in World War II // "Class IV: Jobs in which women cannot or should not be used at all. Example: jobs demanding excessive physical strength, such as driving extremely heavy equipment, stock handling in war ehouses, heavy lifting in mess halls; jobs totally inappropriate, such as battle duty or jobs requiring that personnel be engaged at particularly unfavorable hours, jobs protected by special civil service regulations for civilians, such as librarians."

The Marine Corps Women's reserve was a document that described the jobs that were appropriate for women. Women were not treated as equally as men. Many people looked at them as being weak and useless. This passage shows that women were not put into many jobs, because of their sex. Most of these jobs involved having strength to be able to drive, lift, and handle heavy objects. Women were definitely misjudged by the public.

As men were going into the military during World War II, women were used as a last resort. They were called to work in factories and jobs that were initially for men. Many of these jobs were filled with danger and challenge. One example of these jobs is the one shown in the picture above. Women were forced to make military parts, like Plexiglas nose cones for Aircraft bombers.

//Uniform Regulations, Women 's Reserve, United States Naval Reserve //
 * "Dress** - A plain shirtwaist style with a small collar with rounded ends; shirtwaist with fly front closing; skirt six gored with kick pleat in front panel.
 * Handbag** **Material** - Shall be black or white in color, of leather, synthetic material, fabric, or felt, or any combination of these fabrics."

WAVES were allowed to fight in war, but they had to follow a strict dress code. Pilots and radio announcers were required to wear dresses and use handbags. This document shows the very detailed list of what they had to wear. It also shows everything from the length of dresses to the color and material of handbags. As women were required to dress nicely in war, men could wear slacks and be comfortable. Men had more freedom than women because they were only allowed to wear pants when authorized to do so.

**__10 Facts__**

 * In 1945, there were more working married women than single women.
 * Only about 25% of all women were part of a paid workforce.
 * During the depression, many women were fired to create space for unemployed men.
 * Women's jobs were limited, so it was hard for them to be in the workforce
 * Some women worked for the government, but they had small jobs, as clerks, secretaries, and phone operators. They were called pink-collar jobs.
 * Women became targeted prisoners to Japan, China, and the Philippines.
 * Women feared rape, a common punishment to Japanese prisoners.
 * Women accepted for volunteer emergency service (WAVES), suffered respect and acceptance from men.
 * The navy commanders did not want women to join, even with the scarcity of manpower.
 * Women were only eligible for the WAVES if they graduated high school and were over the age of 20.