Olix,+Jennifer


 * Part A: Plan of Investigation**

The purpose of this investigation is to analyze the impact of WAC (Women's Army Corps) and WAAC (Women's Auxiliary Army Corps) involvement in WWII on the changing lifestyles of women. The evidence will focus on the war efforts of women during the 1930's and 1940's. The analysis will address how significant the American women's influence was on the outcome of the war. The two sources utilized in this investigation, //American Women and World War II// and //Pushing the Limits: American Women 1940-1961//, will be evaluated according to their origin, purpose, values, and limitations. A conclusion will be reached regarding to what extent women helped win WWII for the allies.


 * Part B: Summary of Evidence**

· "While women were encouraged to enter the paid labor force, wartime changes in women's behavior aroused concern. Nowhere was this ambivalence more obvious than in the military itself. In a major change from he past, women entered every part of military service except combat. One-Hundred and Forty-Thousand women joined the Women's Army Corps (WAC)... (May). "Nevertheless, the military made great efforts to recruit women during the war. Oveta Culp Hobby, director of the Women's Army Corps, proclaimed women "are carrying on the glorious tradition of American womanhood. They are making history!... This is a war which recognizes no distinctions between men and women" (May).
 * “6,000 women who patriotically staffed aircraft spotting stations as volunteers were to be militarized. It was thus then a permanent place for women in the U.S. military began” (Weatherford, 28).
 * “On the floor of the House, Representative Edith Nourse Rogers said of [the women volunteers]: They have done a fine job, and the War Department and the country at large are exceedingly grateful to them. It is pointed out, however, that it is vital to efficiency and safety that the Army have military control over such employees…it is a service in which speed is the prime essential-where a matter of a few seconds may mean the difference between life and death. In Great Britain it has been demonstrated time and time again that women are faster, more alert, in this work than is the case with their brothers…” (Weatherford, 29).

· "Women contributed to the war effort, but not at the expense of their domestic duties" (May).

· "...the short-term orientation of war agencies (women) to secure victory operated against viewing war workers (women) as anything but emergency stand-ins" (Honey).

"While women were encouraged to enter the paid labor force, wartime changes in women's behavior aroused concern. Nowhere was this ambivalence more obvious than in the military itself. In a major change from he past, women entered every part of military service except combat. One-Hundred and Forty-Thousand women joined the Women's Army Corps (WAC)... (May). "Nevertheless, the military made great efforts to recruit women during the war. Oveta Culp Hobby, director of the Women's Army Corps, proclaimed women "are carrying on the glorious tradition of American womanhood. They are making history!... This is a war which recognizes no distinctions between men and women" (May).

"Women contributed to the war effort, but not at the expense of their domestic duties" (May).

"...the short-term orientation of war agencies (women) to secure victory operated against viewing war workers (women) as anything but emergency stand-ins" (Honey). (548)


 * Part C: Evaluation of Sources**


 * Weatherford, Doris. //American Women and World War II//. Illus. Cathy Rincon and Ron**
 * Montleone. New York: Facts on File, 1990. Print.**

The origin of this source grew out of Doris Weatherford's observation of an argument between a WAC and a WAVE at an early NOW meeting. The books was published in 1990. The purpose of the text is to give an account of the different roles women played in effort to help the World War II effort. The value of source is in its organization; the book is written in parts all with smaller parts about different jobs and roles women played at home and abroad during the war. The book also quotes from articles and publications that were published during the war, guaranteeing the accuracy of the information of that time. One limitation of the source is the author is a Democrat so some of the opinions and views expressed about the war may be shifted towards more liberal interpretations. Another limitation is the lack of information about men in the war and their contributions.


 * May, Elaine Tyler. //Pushing the Limits: American Women 1940-1961//. Vol. 9. New**
 * York: Oxford University Press, 1994. Print. 12 vols. The Young Oxford**
 * History of Women in the United States.**

The origin of this source is The Young Oxford History of Women in the United States with Elaine Tyler May as the author for Volume 9**.** The purpose this text is to give an overviews of American women from 1940-1961, including their efforts and lifestyles during World War II. For the purpose of this investigation, Chapters one and two will be useful in giving information about American women and the purpose they served in the war effort. The value of this source is giving a holistic overview of what exactly women did during the war years and their significance in the total war effort. More value is found in giving a general background to what other events took place during the war including technological, military, and social advancements that also had an impact on the outcome of the war. A limitation to this source is the length; not a lot of information is given on WWII in the book, only the two chapters. Another limitation is the focus on the social changes women went through during this time, not just the efforts they made in support of the war.

(344)


 * TOTAL word count (1047)**

 Works Cited Giampaoli, Cristina, comp. “Women and WWII: Would life ever be the same again?” //http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/st/~cg3/outline.html//. San Diego University, n.d. Web. 9 Sept. 2010. . Honey, Maureen. //Creating Rosie the Riveter: Class, Gender, and Propaganda during World War II//. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. 1983. Amherst: The University of Massachusetts Press, 1984. Print. 2 vols. May, Elaine Tyler. //Pushing the Limits: American Women 1940-1961//. Vol. 9. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994. Print. 12 vols. The Young Oxford History of Women in the United States. Weatherford, Doris. //American Women and World War II//. Illus. Cathy Rincon and Ron Montleone. New York: Facts on File, 1990. Print.