The Second World War permanently changed the lives of women. Most notably, the war opened new career possibilities and changed women’s fashion. Here are some examples of these changes.
Jobs
World War II, (1939-1945) resulted in a shortage of people in the workforce because thousands of men had gone to fight in the wars. Prior to the war, women who held jobs usually worked in clerical and service sectors. During the war, they started to work in heavy industry and wartime production plants, in jobs that traditionally belonged to men. They worked as engineers, truck drivers, and construction workers, to name a few examples.
Rosie the Riveter became an icon of World War II. She was a symbol of the working woman, especially in defense industries.
Fashion
Women’s fashion also changed because of the war. Skirts became slimmer and shorter (around knee length) to save fabric and meet regulations. Stockings disappeared and women went barelegged because nylon for civilian use was restricted.
The Women’s Land Army were women in the rural workforce in Britain. Women from towns and cities were employed to do dairy work, join rat-catching squads on farms, complete horticultural tasks, operate heavy machinery to turn over land for food production, and source and prepare wood from forests. They wore a special uniform to do their work.
Vanya Wryter Consulting Services 
Informative post about how women’s lives were impacted and changed from World War 2.
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Thanks! Glad you found it informative!
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How could we not acknowledge all the women who had paved the way for the rest of us. A beautiful and apt post my friend. ❤
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Thanks! Yes, women paved the way for future generations.
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🥂❤
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Great post! It’s an era I’ve studied, and I believe this post has some great facts!
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Thanks. Glad the post has interesting facts.
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true
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Thanks
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Very interesting and thanks for sharing the videos too.
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Thanks! I’m glad you found the post interesting!
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Great post!!!! They showed the world that women could handle it all while the men fought.
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The women fought in WW2 also! The Night Witches were combat pilots who flew out of date planes without modern instruments and an open cockpit.
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Oh yes I know, former military here and they inspired me in o many ways.
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Glad they did!
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Super interesting, Vanya! I really enjoyed this post and the videos. I had not heard of “land girls” before, but they sure had a tough job. My grandmother was a “Rosie the Riveter” during WWII. She worked in a shipyard building ships.
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Wow. Your grandmother must have been fit and strong!
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An interesting story!
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Thanks for reading!
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I learnt about this in one of my history classes and it’s fascinating. WWII actually did a lot for women’s rights.
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Usually it takes a major event to bring changes. Glad it paved the way for women to have access to a wider range of jobs.
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Yes indeed, although unfortunately when the men came back things went back in many ways and women lost many of their freedoms as well as many of the jobs.
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And even though women had more job options, they were paid less than men for the same job.
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Yes, there was a huge difference in payment for the exact same jobs.
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It still exists. Let’s hope we close the gender pay gap in our lifetime.
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I really hope we do but things aren’t looking great. But even if we get closer to equality we’ll have done something good for future generations.
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One step and one generation at a time!
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Had never heard that fabric shortages were one reason for shorter skirts! Fascinating. Thanks!!!
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Yes, there were even cases where potato and flour sacks (which had patterns) were turned into dresses. Or women would draw lines on the back of their legs to create the illusion of nylons since they couldn’t get real ones.
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so funny….!
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They were inventive!
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War made gaps
And those gaps where filled by women.
Women start taking jobs that were men based.
A good thing actually.
In India, during our freedom fight, many women came forward to fight alongside.
War had it’s plus and minus
Great share VW
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Very interesting and great story
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Thank you for reading!
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NICE POST 💚💓💖
Blessed and Happy day 🌞
Greetings from Spain 🇪🇸🫂
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Thanks! Hope you have a great day!
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Interesting history. Well done, Vanya.
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Thanks, Pat!
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