World War 1

World War 1 was a war of many firsts. It was also the beginning of the United States becoming a world superpower, which women took part in. They were helping during the war. They contributed a big part. Some women were nurses and medics, they also treated the hurt and wounded troopers. As a result women took on many new roles. Role of American Women on the front lines at the war, role on the home front during the war and the impact the war had on women during that time.

The roles of American women on the front lines at war was taking care of the troopers. They also drove ambulances, they were nurses and medics. Women were taught food conservation, military calisthenics, and drill, land telegraphy or telephone operating, how to manufacture surgical dressings and bandages, signal work and many more skills. Also there were jobs that men couldn’t maintain because they had to move out , into the trenches. Women occupied a wide variety of noncombat duty positions. Meaning that they did not fight in the war, they had other men positions. Women went from radio electricians and draftsmen to secretaries, accountants, telephone operators and more. There also was the “Hello Girls.” The “hello girls” entertained troops and worked as journalists. Many of those women found their own work. They argued, persuaded and scrounge for supplies. Women sent out canteen for the US Army, they provided entertainment, sewing on buttons, handing out cigarettes and sweets. They kept the men inspired and motivated. Also the women that enlisted in the US Army mostly did clerical work. The Army hired women nurses and telephone operators to work overseas. There were plans for women’s auxiliary corps- to perform clerical, supply and communication work. Women’s successful participation in world war 1 was an important precedent for expanding roles of american women in the military and for developing the military establishment acceptance of women's service in the U.S armed forces.

The roles women played on the home front, during the war, were the jobs that the men (their husbands and sons) left, so they can serve their country in war overseas, women replaced those jobs. Women filled many jobs that were brought into existence by wartime needs. The war actually created more domestic jobs because many women who worked in factories and outside their homes were not able to care well enough for their children. As men went off to war, women took on more responsibilities. Women took over the production lines in factories. They also replaced men as police officers, mechanics, train conductors and barbers. Also some jobs that women had to take on was : government clerks, stenographers and telegraphers.

The effect the war had on women during the time of 1914-1918 was that women’s roles began to change because of the war. They were housewives and mothers, cooking and cleaning their homes. They also were watching over their youths/children. Then they had to change their roles to help support the war. One major contribution to the war effort was to take over the running of the farms and grow food on the farms, while maintaining their households. They maintained the roles of those duties due to helping the war. Though the war also tore families apart forcing women to take on so many and more new roles, during the war. Once America entered the war, more feminists supported the war effort. Though, after the war, having achieved both suffrage and prohibition many feminists groups began promoting world peace.
In conclusion, women during World War 1 played a major role in the war effort by taking on males duties. Replacing the men in their work and duties. Having sideline jobs during the war , though they were noncombat. Women really did play a major role in World War 1. Today, women’s roles are are still also being mothers and housewives. Also they are lawyers, doctors, nurses , police & many more great, successful things. Also women now of days can work jobs that males work. They are all equal.