Women at War with America: Private Lives in a Patriotic Era

by D'Ann Campbell

Describes how World War II affected the lives of American women, and examines the challenges they faced in the military and as nurses, factory workers, volunteer workers, and homemakers

320 pages, Hardcover

First published November 27, 1984

Reviews

[Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author could have added (and themselves) in the title. It seems that women are often their own enemies, or should I say divided as to whether they should be subservient or equal to men. Most women supported the war effort, some answered the call to join the military, some went to work in defense plants or took jobs vacated by men who enlisted or were drafted. Many others took part in saving fat and other recyclables to assist the war effort. This book uses data from interviews conducted shortly after the war as well as information from the war years. There was no real push for equal rights for women in the work force except to assure wages stayed high in the expectation that men would return to the jobs. If the unions allowed women to be paid less, it is likely industry would have continued hiring women to keep labor costs down.
It was expected that women would gladly give up their employment and return to their jobs as housewives to take care of their men and families. The book is an interesting read of women's reactions to the war effort.