Daughters of Athena: American women in the military during World War II

Abstract

The integration of women into the military establishment during World War II evoked a multitude of reactions from the American public. As over 500,000 women joined the military, they were met with support, skepticism, and condemnation. The attitudes of the civilian populace and the military establishment challenged women to expand social constructs of acceptable female behavior. As women gained a foothold in the military establishment, they proved to be a valuable asset to the war effort. Military planners initially envisioned women working in traditionally gendered occupations. As American males deployed to the European or Pacific Theaters, women frequently assumed unorthodox roles. Their experiences changed their perception of themselves and their environment. This study will explore the roles women assumed within the military establishment.^In addition, this study will examine the impact of the military experience upon the lives of female veterans.^Women entering the military enlisted in the WAAC/WAC, SPARS, WASP, WAVES, or the Marine Corps. Each branch of the military approached integration of females into the service in different ways and adopted varied requirements for enlistees. As a result, the choice of organization often reflected the educational and social background of the recruit. This study will explore the role of social class within the branches of the military. Finally, this study will include a brief synthesis of female enlistment in each branch of the service. Each branch of the military has published an official synthesis of female participation in the war effort. Collections of autobiographical histories have been published. Nevertheless, the historiographical record lacks an academic synthesis of women in the military during World War II.^The research conducted for this study includes primary and secondary source materials.^In addition, interviews with female veterans and collection of oral histories shed valuable insight into the subsequent impact of the military experience in the lives of American veterans.