Women's+Role+in+Inudustry

//Name: Sarah Hoffman// //Age: 27// //Hometown: Detroit// //Birthday: 1, 17, 1913// //Income: $525/ year// //Listed As: Married// //Occupation: Manufactures War Vehicles at Ford//

//World War II has been a horrible tragedy for out country. Our citizens have died, the newspapers are filled with horrible news, and I am left alone at the house to support myself. My husband has left to fight the war in Europe, and almost no income is coming into the house. Every day, I fear for his life as he battles, and I fear for myself and the thought of being completely independent for the first time in my life. Though the concept of being completely self-reliant is new to me, I am not the only woman in my situation. Like many of my friends and neighbors, I am alone, and must support myself in this time of desparity.// //Industry has taken off recently due to the war. The United States army needs weapons and supplies on the front, but none of the men are home to work in manufacturing. Now that so many of the men are away due to the draft, industrial jobs, that were once completely limited to men are open to women as well for the first time (Danzer et. Al. 565). The second I could, I applied for an industrial job to support my country and myself in this time of need. I took a job manufacturing war vehicles, particularly airplanes, at Ford. The pay is amazing compared to that of any ordinary woman's job. Just a few years ago, I had a job as a waitress that paid a mere $12 a week. Now, I sometimes get up to $44 per week (Schweitzer 90). Though my wages are still 60% less than that of the ordinary man, I am incredibly pleased with the pay I am receiving now (Danzer et. Al. 565).// //The job I took seemed oddly unfitting at first. Years ago, I would have laughed at anyone who would have told me that I would work a man's job, never mind build airplanes. Now though, I have warmed up to my new position. It is empowering to know that I too am helping in the war effort and have become an independent (Sato 1). When the war first began, many people warned that the United States would never have enough workers to meet our military needs, and it feels good to prove to those people that women can work too (Danzer et. Al. 565). Proving that we can do jobs just as well as the men has helped every woman in America build self-esteem and a sense of pride. In fact, six million industrial workers today are women (Danzer et. Al. 565). One quarter of the workers working in the Ford manufacturing plant alone are women, most of which have husbands off in Europe, just like me (Schweitzer 91). I even joined The United Automobile Workers Union, which at one time would have been composed of only men (Schweitzer 91). "Rosie the Riviter" has become a symbol for all the women like me, willing to take a stand to help out country, and prepared for the hardshipsd that come our way (Sato 2).// For the first time, women are taking a stand in society and becoming considerable forces in the United States economy (Sato 1).

//I know that WWII is a devastating event, but even this tragedy has had positive effects on the United States. We have been pulled out of the Great Depression thanks to the sudden demand of industrial products. Women are taking jobs that men would have once had, proving our ability to work. Hopefully, this new trend in women and industry will inspire women around the country and around the world not to be shackled by the expectations of society. We will show them that women too, can work.//

//Danzer, Gerald A., J. Jorge Klor de Alva, Larry S. Krieger, and Louis E. Wilson. The Americans. McDougal Littell, 2005.//

Sato, Chitose. "Gender and Work in the American Aircraft Industry Durring World War II." The Japanese Journal of American Studies (2000). 24 Oct. 2007 <[|http://wwwsoc.nii.ac.jp/jaas/periodicals/JJAS/PDF/2000/No.11-147.pdf>.]

//Schweitzer, Mary M. Word War II and Female Labor Force Participation Rates. Mar. 1980. Journal of Economic History. JSTOR. Hunterdon Central Regional High School. 23 Oct. 2007// http:[|//www.jstor.org/view/00220507/di975650/97p0092q/0?]frame=noframe&userID=hunterdoncentral@hcrhs.k12.nj.us/01cce4405d00501b3d59c&dpi=3&config=jstor>.

__Women Durring WWII__. Presidential Libraries. 25 Oct. 2007 <[|http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/quick_links/military/World_WarII_women.html>.]