The Second World War of between 1939 and 1945 brought significant changes to the social and economic spheres of the societies residing in the United States of America. As part of the Allied powers, the government had the task to coordinate its people and strategize according to the demands of battle before joining the Alliance to fight the Axis nations. On American soil, it became the citizens’ responsibility to produce war materials such as weapons for the troops to use at the battle lines. As men enlisted to fight for their country, the situation at home changed as for the first time, the benefactors of white supremacy were absent, the minority groups sufficed.
Accordingly, perhaps the most significant workplace changes that took place were the hiring of women and African Americans in work positions that had previously been out of their reach. Gender disparities had put women at a disadvantage as the lucrative job opportunities were strictly for the males and whatever world they could find paid less just because of their feminism. Hence, as the men joined the military, the government, and the factory owners turned their attention to the women while urging them to find work in the industries. A perfect illustration of the given assertion is evident in the “Rosie the Riveter” campaigns in which posters depicted “the female industrial laboreras muscular and self-reliant” (Foner 686). Meanwhile, the African American populace which had since the reconstruction era been subject to segregation and other forms of racial bigotry found themselves owners of new opportunities because of the war. Initially, persons of color could only find work as menial laborers without skills and the necessary papers to claim better-paying jobs. Thus, as the women gained more acceptances in the previously white men only workplaces, African Americans also sought better work conditions and salaries in the war-production regions (Foner 694). Still, racism was still evident as any upgrades given to black employees prompted protests from the Caucasians.
Thus said, between 1940 and 1945, the United States experienced changes courtesy of the Second World War. In the country’s response to the challenges posed by joining the battles, its societies shifted in nature as well and with it, the labor movement grew. The employment of women and coloreds challenged the existing racial and gender disparities and at the same time, the government’s desire to encourage more Americans to work in the factories gave labor unions a leverage to demand more benefits for members. Expectedly, World War II changed American lives forever.
Works Cited
Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty!: An American History. 4th. Vol. II. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2013. Print.
