Glossary

5.2 The impact of WWI on gender roles and expectations

4 min read•august 13, 2024

shook up traditional gender roles in America. As men went off to fight, women stepped into jobs they'd never held before. From factory work to military service, women proved they could handle tasks once seen as "men's work."

The war opened new doors for women in employment, politics, and social life. Though many changes were temporary, WWI planted seeds for future progress in and gender equality. It challenged old ideas about what women could do.

Gender Roles Challenged by WWI

Women Enter Male-Dominated Workplaces

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  • WWI created on the home front as men went off to fight, opening up new roles for that had traditionally been male-dominated
    • Over a million women entered the U.S. workforce during WWI
  • Women took on jobs in heavy industry, proving their capability to perform physically demanding "male" work
    • Munitions manufacturing
    • Shipbuilding
    • Automobile production
  • The U.S. government actively recruited women to join the war effort through propaganda campaigns, normalizing the idea of women working outside the home

Women's Military Participation Increases

  • Women's direct participation in the military, though limited, increased during WWI
    • Nurses
    • Phone operators
    • Clerical workers
  • By 1918, over 30,000 women were serving in the U.S. military and over 10,000 were serving overseas
  • Even as women took on masculine roles, they were still expected to maintain feminine dress and decorum while embodying masculine traits like strength and bravery, reflecting the temporary nature of these shifted gender expectations

Women's Opportunities in Wartime

Expansion of White-Collar Jobs for Women

  • In addition to joining the industrial workforce, educated women had new opportunities for white-collar jobs in government due to the need for wartime labor
    • Clerks
    • Typists
    • Bookkeepers
  • Women's skill at stepping into clerical and administrative positions previously held by men showed their intellectual capabilities and potential to handle positions of responsibility

Elevated Public Roles in Volunteer Work

  • The U.S. Food Administration heavily relied on women volunteers to lead food conservation efforts on the home front, elevating women's public role as patriotic household managers
  • Women's volunteer organizations were very active in supporting the war effort, increasing their presence in public community spaces
    • Fundraising
    • Assembling care packages
    • Selling war bonds
    • Planting victory gardens
  • Women's public roles as nurses, both at home and on the warfront, were crucial to the war effort and raised the professional status of nursing as a skilled, patriotic calling

Advancing Women's Suffrage

  • Women gained new leadership roles in the during WWI as they argued that their wartime service proved they deserved full citizenship rights
    • Led to the passage of the shortly after the war

Shifting Attitudes Towards Women

Proving Women's Capabilities

  • Women's ability to maintain domestic production and serve the war effort while men were fighting overseas proved to many that women were just as patriotic, competent and hard-working as men
  • Images of women working in munitions plants and other industrial settings demonstrated women's physical and mental fortitude to a wide public and helped break down assumptions about the limitations of female bodies

Balancing Masculinity and Femininity

  • The fact that women continued to dress fashionably and femininely while taking on masculine jobs helped make their shifting roles more socially palatable and less transgressive
  • However, most of these attitude shifts were temporary and conditional as women's expanded roles were understood as a patriotic sacrifice and duty, not necessarily a permanent change

Long-Term Impact of WWI on Gender Roles

Expanding Women's Employment

  • Women's success in the wartime workforce helped erode barriers to women's employment and career advancement, even if many women did return to the domestic sphere after the war
    • Women's share of the U.S. workforce rose from 24% in 1910 to 36% by 1930

Political Gains with Suffrage

  • The ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920 was a landmark shift in women's political status as citizens, which was significantly aided by women's wartime contributions

Seeds of Cultural Change

  • New ideas about modern womanhood and the "New Woman" of the 1920s built on young women's independence and mobility that started during WWI with women entering the workforce, volunteering, and socializing without chaperones
  • However, most of the long-term gains were limited to white, middle-class women, as working-class women and women of color still faced significant barriers and discrimination
  • Fundamentally, WWI disrupted Victorian gender ideology and paved the way for more fluid understandings of gender roles, even if a full-scale revolution wasn't immediately realized. The war years planted seeds of change that would continue to grow

Key Terms to Review (17)

19th Amendment: The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1920, granted women the legal right to vote, marking a significant victory for the women's suffrage movement. This amendment transformed the political landscape by breaking down barriers that kept women from participating in the democratic process and challenged the prevailing separate spheres ideology that confined women to domestic roles.
Advertising: Advertising is a form of communication that aims to inform, persuade, or remind people about products, services, or ideas. In the context of societal changes, particularly during and after WWI, advertising played a crucial role in shaping gender roles and expectations by targeting specific demographics and promoting traditional and evolving images of masculinity and femininity.
Alice Paul: Alice Paul was a prominent American suffragist and women's rights activist who played a crucial role in the women's suffrage movement in the early 20th century. Known for her militant tactics and strategic leadership, she was instrumental in the fight for women's right to vote, particularly through her advocacy for the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote in the United States. Paul's activism significantly influenced women's roles on the home front during WWI and helped shape changing gender expectations in the post-war era.
Feminism: Feminism is a social and political movement advocating for the rights and equality of women, addressing issues such as gender discrimination, reproductive rights, and equal pay. It recognizes that women's experiences and identities are shaped by various intersecting factors, including race, class, and sexuality, which highlight the importance of inclusive approaches to gender equality.
Gender essentialism: Gender essentialism is the belief that men and women have inherent, distinct, and fixed traits that define their identities and roles in society. This perspective often reduces gender to a binary understanding, attributing specific characteristics and behaviors to each gender based on perceived biological or natural differences. This notion has historically influenced societal norms, particularly in the context of domestic roles and expectations during certain historical events.
Gender role reversal: Gender role reversal refers to the shift in traditional expectations of gender roles, where individuals assume roles typically associated with the opposite gender. This concept gained prominence during World War I as women took on jobs and responsibilities that were traditionally held by men, challenging established norms of femininity and masculinity. The changes during this period played a crucial role in reshaping societal perceptions of gender capabilities and contributed to long-term shifts in gender dynamics.
Labor shortages: Labor shortages refer to a situation where the demand for workers exceeds the supply of available labor, often resulting in unfilled jobs. This phenomenon can significantly impact various industries, economies, and societal structures, especially during times of conflict or major change, such as World War I. The urgency to fill roles traditionally held by men led to shifts in gender roles and expectations as women stepped into the workforce to meet these demands.
Masculinity crisis: The masculinity crisis refers to a perceived threat to traditional male identities and roles, often arising from societal changes that challenge conventional notions of masculinity. This crisis can manifest through feelings of inadequacy, confusion, and resistance as men navigate shifting gender expectations, particularly in the aftermath of significant historical events like World War I, which altered the landscape of gender roles and responsibilities.
Patriarchal backlash: Patriarchal backlash refers to the social and political responses that seek to reinforce traditional gender roles and hierarchies in reaction to challenges posed by women's movements and advances in gender equality. This phenomenon often manifests during periods of significant change, such as the aftermath of wars or major social movements, when shifts in gender norms threaten established power dynamics.
Propaganda posters: Propaganda posters are visual artworks created to influence public opinion, promote specific ideologies, and encourage certain behaviors or attitudes during times of social or political change. During major events like WWI, these posters were crucial in shaping the perception of women's roles both at home and in the workforce, while also challenging and altering traditional gender expectations as society evolved.
Returning soldiers' reintegration: Returning soldiers' reintegration refers to the process by which veterans re-enter civilian life after their military service, often facing challenges in adapting to societal norms and expectations. This term is particularly significant in understanding how the return of soldiers after World War I reshaped gender roles and expectations, as it highlighted the contrast between traditional male roles as protectors and providers and the changing landscape of women's roles during and after the war.
Selective Service Act: The Selective Service Act was a law enacted in 1917 that authorized the United States federal government to raise an army through compulsory enlistment of citizens for military service. This act was significant during World War I as it marked a shift in gender roles and expectations, as men were drafted while women began taking on roles traditionally held by men, leading to changes in societal views about gender capabilities and responsibilities.
Suffrage movement: The suffrage movement was a social and political campaign aimed at securing the right to vote for women, primarily in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This movement was closely tied to changing perceptions of women's roles, particularly during times of crisis like World War I, where women's contributions on the home front and in the workforce became more visible. The suffrage movement was also influenced by various social reform efforts, where women's clubs played a critical role in organizing and advocating for voting rights.
Wartime economy: A wartime economy is a type of economic structure that emerges during periods of war, where resources are redirected from civilian to military production to support the war effort. This shift often leads to changes in workforce demographics, increased government control over industries, and a reallocation of labor, significantly impacting societal roles and expectations, especially regarding gender.
Women in the workforce: Women in the workforce refers to the participation of women in paid employment, which has evolved significantly over time due to social, economic, and political changes. As societal norms shifted, women's roles expanded beyond traditional domestic responsibilities, particularly during major events like wars and legislative changes that empowered women to seek careers and assert their independence.
Women's rights: Women's rights refer to the freedoms and entitlements that belong to women and girls, advocating for equality in various areas including social, political, and economic spheres. The push for women's rights intensified during significant historical events, notably World War I, which challenged traditional gender roles and expectations, leading to shifts in societal views about women's capabilities and their roles outside the home.
World War I: World War I, also known as the Great War, was a global conflict that lasted from 1914 to 1918, involving many of the world's great powers and leading to significant political, social, and economic changes. It reshaped national borders and had a profound impact on gender roles and expectations as societies grappled with the consequences of war and the need for labor in various sectors.
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