During many of the huge wars that are taught in history, manye notice the roles of men that fought on the front lines. Few notice the roles of the women that went on behind the scenes. While the men fought the fights, the women helped prepare for them.
Home Front
Most of American women’s attention was concentrated on the home fronts and there, they were focused on 2 main things: materials and work.
Materials
While men were asked by the government to fight in the war, women were asked to conserve as much as possible. In other words, they had to ensure there was enough supplies for their lives to function normally while the main chunk of the supplies went to the war effort. To do this, many females ended up rationing their goods or stopped using certain items like oil or meat as frequently. They even grew their own food by creating liberty gardens so they wouldn't have to rely on the farmer's market.
“How to Shop with War Ration Book Two” by U.S. Government Printing Office, 1943
Work
As men left for war, people realized there weren't enough men to transport materials or use raw materials to create the weapons needed for war so women had to step up to the plate. The government and businesses started hiring women to fill in the jobs men left behind for the war. During this time, women were allowed to choose any job they wanted whether it was exclusively for men or women. Though they were paid less than the salaries men received, these women gained “a degree of financial self-reliance that was enticing” (Khan Academy). This helped change many women's mindset of the roles a women should play and seek for more independence.
Women working with range shell cases at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich in the New Case Shop, May 1918. The photo was taken by a fellow female worker during her active service in the army. (Part of the Imperial War Museum’s Minister of Information First World War Official Collection)
