American Centuries

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American Centuries > Lessons > History Lessons By Teachers > Women During World War II

Women During World War II

Details

Author
Karen Scholz
Topic/Subject Area
Gender, Gender Roles, Women; Industry, Occupation, Work
Historical Era
Great Depression and World War II, 1929–1945
Grade Level
Elementary (K–5)
Creation Date
2003
Last Revision Date
2024

Related items

About This Lesson

Summary and Objective

Students will understand that the nation’s need for women to enter the workforce during World War II changed their role in society during that time, and that it was the powerful production of this workforce that ensured victory for the Allied Forces. Students will analyze popular portrayals of women created during World War II.

Materials & Resources

Collection Items
Images

Teaching Plan

  1. Distribute copies of the image Liberty Girl (Rosie to the Rescue), 1943 or ask students to view the image online. Talk about women’s experiences during World War II. Focus on the experiences of women going to work to increase war production and their work at home toward the war effort and what social conflicts this may have caused for them. The teacher should give a brief description of the roles that a woman living during World War II would have taken on, as represented by Norman Rockwell’s picture. As they look at Liberty Girl (Rosie to the Rescue), students will identify objects carried by Rosie that represent those different roles.
  2. Distribute copies of the collection item images (or ask students to view them online): woman’s identification badge, the sugar sack, the curling iron and the sugar purchase certificate. Ask students to read the labels beneath each object and discuss how these objects relate to the daily experiences of women during World War II.
  3. Distribute copies of the images Rosie the Riveter, 1943 and We Can Do It! to students or ask them to view the images online. Ask students to compare and contrast these portrayals of Rosie the Riveter. Explain to students what a riveter is – a person who bonds two pieces of metal together with a nail-like bolt. Ships and planes and other war vehicles were made with rivets. Pose the following questions for discussion and ask the students to write their answers:
    • What do these two women have in common?
    • What do they look like?
    • How do they show their personalities through their poses?
    • How do they differ?
    • Which image do you think became more popular with the public during the war?
    • Which image do you like better?
    • What do you think the artist’s intent was?
  4. As a group the students shares their answers to the questions in step 3 while examining the pictures.