Propaganda is a powerful force that changes people’s perspective. Many events throughout history have used propaganda to change the way people think and once this shift in thinking occurs it is difficult, if not impossible to change things back to the way they used to be, potentially effecting society’s perspectives well into the future.
These changes can be beneficial or hurtful to society. Propaganda use towards women can be beneficial because it may boost moral and produce empowerment which was very important during WWII, or It can be hurtful because it may create invalid assumptions and on different races, gender, and cultures.
These changes can be beneficial or hurtful to society. Propaganda use towards women can be beneficial because it may boost moral and produce empowerment which was very important during WWII, or It can be hurtful because it may create invalid assumptions and on different races, gender, and cultures.
The Need for Working Women
Government use of propaganda during World War II directly affected a change in society's acceptance of women in the workplace. Mixed media messages were used to urge women to come out of their kitchens and move into the factories. Women entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers during World War II, as widespread male enlistment left gaping holes in the industrial labor force. For the first time women were shown in overalls with greasy hands contributing to jobs traditionally reserved for males. Coming out of the era of the Great Depression, the war offered them an opportunity, for the first time, to support their family with a decent working wage.
To mobilize these women, all of the government propaganda needed to communicate a central theme. It concentrated on personal patriotism and emotional appeals using two aspects, the positive "do your part" approach and the negative "a soldier may die if you don't do your part" warning. The campaign slogan "The More Women at Work-The Sooner We'll Win" promised women that their contributions could bring their men home sooner.
Women were mobilized to fill a wide range of occupations, from volunteering in agriculture production to factory work to service in the newly created women’s auxiliary military service providing support to the war effort in every means except active combat roles. At the end of the Second World War, the question of what to do with so many working women was raised, The role of women had changed from predominantly domestic duties of child raising and running the household to being absorbed fully into the work force. There was no doubt in people's minds that many things had changed. With the end of the war and the return of male soldiers propaganda was then concentrated on putting women back into the kitchens. Propaganda focused on women began to concentrate on the traditional roles played before the war like homemaking. Magazines began to reinforce an image of women as active consumers painting a picture suburban life and large families; but peacetime saw more women than ever before entering the workplace. The new phenomenon of a woman with a family and career had taken root and continued to expand and grow.
Image references:
Donald, Z. (1941), Women of Britain Come into the Factories.[Poster]. Retrieved from http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O75918/women-of-britain-come-into-poster-zec-donald/
Hicks, V. (1940), The Girl who isn’t there. [Poster]. Retrieved from http://www.onslows.co.uk/images/NewsJun13/girl.jpg
Taintor, A. (2004), Another day in Paradise. [Post Card]. Retrieved from http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X4_XLZBpzSQ/Sbg-HOph_LI/AAAAAAAACjQ/MFyNWNMZXPc/S220/01102~Another-Day-In-Paradise-Posters.jpg
Donald, Z. (1941), Women of Britain Come into the Factories.[Poster]. Retrieved from http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O75918/women-of-britain-come-into-poster-zec-donald/
Hicks, V. (1940), The Girl who isn’t there. [Poster]. Retrieved from http://www.onslows.co.uk/images/NewsJun13/girl.jpg
Taintor, A. (2004), Another day in Paradise. [Post Card]. Retrieved from http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_X4_XLZBpzSQ/Sbg-HOph_LI/AAAAAAAACjQ/MFyNWNMZXPc/S220/01102~Another-Day-In-Paradise-Posters.jpg