Was WW II a "watershed", turning point, for women's rights? Why do you think that?

Answer 1

I don't agree with your statement, particularly the word "watershed". True, WWII forced (or enabled, if you prefer) women to enter the workforce and assume defense jobs once handled by men, but the majority of them gladly went back to the kitchen following the end of hostilities in 1945. I can't think of any legislation that particularly added to women's statutory rights during the WWII period.

Answer 2

Yes, I do think so. Urgent manpower needs forced the government and industries to employ women in jobs and positions they would not normally do during peacetime: factory workers (heavy jobs such as riveters, hence the term Rosie the Riveter), pilots (ferrying planes from the US to overseas war zones), army officers (mostly in the medical service as nurses but also as administrators in the Women's Army Corps or WAC), truck drivers...

After the war, the guys in power reversed the practice and send the women back to the kitchens again (Observe the housewives in the 50's TV shows like Father Knows Best and Leave It to Beaver). However, the Genie was out of the bottle and the women realized they could do things that once were the exclusive domains of men; hence the rebirth of the women's movement in the 60's and 70's.

Answer 3

I believe the watershed was WWI not WWII. Women did the same thing in the first world war. take jobs in factories for the men that were taken for the front. If you look at it, after WWI the western nations gave you THE RIGHT TO VOTE! World war two was a repeat of the past war on the home front. After WWII, did the same thing as in WWI but women were not needing to push for any rights. They got the big one after after WWI

Answer 4

Actually, the invention of indoor plumbing was the "watershed" moment for women's rights, because this allowed for indoor washing machines, which allowed women to be able to cook and clean the house without the tired old excuses about having to "take" the laundry elsewhere and not getting their other work done.
Now, go make me a sandwich.

Answer 5

Yes. They're the ones who built the airplanes and ships, while the men were at war. They kept the country running during the war. Men found out they could weld and were capable of doing other "Man"jobs., as well as fighting in the war.
It also made woman realize that they were equal and could do things they were told they couldn't do.It gave them enlightenment and the courage to speak for themselves.
What would they have done without us?

Answer 6

yes, many women had to leave the home and go to work during the war but lost their jobs when the men came home. sparking the initial start of the womens rights.

Dornessa Harris
http://onlinedownlinebuilders.com