Women's role during the Great Depression and during world war ll - Essay Example

The Role of Women Through the Years Women have been known to be the heart of the home and are expected to keep it as a haven for the family. They are the main nurturers whose maternal instincts are inherent in order for the family members’ health and well-being to be maintained. The war was responsible for changing women’s roles to adapt to the times. Women were called out of their home duties to participate in the war efforts to extend their womanly responsibilities to other people as caregivers of the wounded soldiers or lend assistance to poor mothers who have difficulties in caring for their infants or young children.

Women served as nurses or teachers, cooks or cleaners. Some even ventured into men’s jobs. In such cases, discrimination was commonplace. Women were not deemed as clever or as physically strong as their male counterparts, and as a result, were often harassed, by their bosses and trade unionists. They therefore, had to fight to be taken seriously because their male counterparts were often very suspicious of their capabilities. It was a time for women to shine despite the discrimination they experienced.

When no other men were available, women were given significant tasks that were originally assigned to men. They were initially trained to the same standard as men, but employers eventually didn’t want to hire fully trained women because they received better pay, which upset the trained male workers, causing friction in the workplace. Equal pay became a huge issue that women fought for and this even spurred the women’s liberation movement. Indeed, women made productive use of their time during the war.

They were able to combine work, marriage and motherhood without seriously undermining their expected home responsibilities. A woman’s participation in the war effort did not doom conventional sexual divisions of labour while compensating her work with much needed payment without threatening her domestic duties. This multi-faceted role also gave her a feeling of personal importance which is mostly taken for granted by the people around her. The war was devastating for most people, taking the lives of their loved ones, destroying their properties and livelihood.

Previously held values were put aside as morality took a plunge in the name of survival. It was a very emotional time for all, and women were tested of their emotional and physical strength to carry on despite all the hardships and challenges thrown their way. Most women proved themselves and have gained skills to they were able to use in various tasks. Living independently without their men to rely on, they learned to cope in order to keep themselves and their children together. Having proven their mettle, women can now face more challenges in this new millennium.

More and more women have taken their place beyond the glass ceiling, gaining both the ire and respect of the men they topple down from position. With this upward trend, women may look forward to better opportunities for them not only at work, but in society as well. Women’s ability to multitask their many roles both at home and at work gives them more credibility to be offered higher positions in society. The rise of lady rulers is one proof that indeed, women can be equal to men.