Women's roles in World War-2

Women's roles in World War-2

Introduction

The World War Two brought new dimensions and revelations to the role of ordinary women. The roles of women community in the War cannot be neglected or overlooked. These courageous and brave women volunteered alongside men in a number of services, giving their utmost contribution to fighting the battle. At homes these women replaces the responsibilities of men, taking part in various positions at factories, government agencies, military auxiliaries, and resistant groups. This was not all they did during the war times. A relatively fewer number of women also participated in the actual battlefield, emerging as competent soldiers and combatants. They took part in the bombing campaigns and invaded armies, just like the male soldiers. It was found that by the end of the battle; more than two million women had taken part in different works related to the war industries. This figure elaborates their competency and willingness to sacrifice for their safety and protection form enemies. Hundreds of thousands of women also took part as nurses in various defense units, providing crucial health care services to the wounded soldiers and victims of the battle. They also worked as full-time members of the military operations, guiding and assisting their male counterparts at varying forums related to wartimes. In the Soviet Union alone, some 800,000 women served alongside men in army units during the war.

The thesis statement for the given topic is: “Women took an active part in the World War Two, creating many new jobs for the traditional women and shifting the traditional image of a housekeeper by participating in war activities outside their households.”

Discussion

There were many roles and responsibilities that were undertaken by the women of the wartimes. These indicated their spirit to emerge as a safe community, unharmed by physical and emotional pressures due to war. The most prominent roles of the war-women included:

Their role in making large-scale evacuations to save their families especially children,

Women's Land Army (WLA) re-formed in the year 1939,

Women as factory workers

Auxiliary Territorial Service (army, navy, air force, air arid wardens)

Women's Voluntary Service (WVS)

As Secret Agents

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Women's Roles post-1945

Women, during World War Two, remained composed in emotional sense, as they struggled to make mass evacuations in order to protect their families from the enemy. It was found that about 3.5 million children were evacuated using the guidance and assistance of women as mothers and teachers. The Women's Land Army (WLA) was an initiative to encourage women soldiers to help on the land, as a result of its reformation in the year 1939. Hence, in this Army, women took up the role of real soldiers as they entered the battlefield and with the use of weapons combated with eth enemy fearlessly. During war times, these women also opted to work in factories under various lines of production in war-related accessories, armors and other useful items. They worked for various tasks ranging from making ammunition to uniforms to aero ...