History question?

Question

Why did so many women work during WW2? How were women's wages afffected before and after the war?

Answer 1

Why do you think? The women worked because all the men were gone to war. There was a draft then. And women's wages were higher during the war because there was nobody else to work, and then the men came home from the war and the women's jobs were taken away and the higher wages were given back to the men.

Answer 2

To elaborate on Teacherwich's answer, women were encouraged by governments to work. Government campaigns told women that it was their duty to help in the war effort. This helped women overcome the belief that their place was in the home. It was, of course, a big incentive that they needed the money and got the opportunity to feel independent. Then, as now, women were not valued as much as men. So when men were available to work, women's pay was all the lower.