top of page
Coffee Shop

Women in World War I

Contact
Home: Welcome

About

It wasn't just about them it was about us too. We were going to war just as much as they were and just like them we were set out to win. On April 2, 1917, the  United States entered the First World War and President Woodrow Wilson initiated a draft for all men between twenty-one and thirty. In the beginning, over ten million men registered and 2.7 million were drafted. When the war reached its end in November of 1918 over four million men served in the Army alone and eight-hundred thousand served in other military forces.

Women_in_WWI.png
Home: About

A World Without Men

The sad part of it all was that we saw it coming. We could hear it in their voices. The Great War was inevitable. It was not long after that every eligible son, brother, and husband was being shipped off the fight. That was just the beginning for us because you see they needed weapons and supplies but who was going to provide them with that? Luckily we are here for then as always. The United States War Work Campaign brought together organizations to support women on the home front and those who were also in the military and jobs that were typically done by men. Many of the women went to work in factories and offices. However, even women who stuck to their traditional role as a housewife contributed to the war effort. When the war started every housewife across the United States signed a pledge card stating that they would can food for future use, growing food at home, and limiting the usage of meat, wheat, and fats. However, their greatest role in the war was to constantly boost the morale of their families and the community. 

 When the United States entered the war they were not prepared to provide more supplies than just weapons and ammunition. Due to the high demand for warmer clothing and other supplies, the government turned to the nation's women. This sparked several campaigns such as the "For Every Fighter a Woman Worker" that brought together seven organizations to assist with the war relief efforts.

MA.19A_edited.jpg

By the Way, We can do it too

They said we could not. That their job was just too hard for us. However, when they left who did they think was going to supply them with everything they needed. Did they believe that it was just 
going to appear out of thin air? Wrong!  It is us. The wife, mothers, and daughters of the men fighting across the sea. Our job in this war is to make weapons, clothes, and supply food to the boys far from home.

" A World You Just aren't ready for"

Before you could even believe it, we were doing everything that they do. Working in factories, making money, and fighting the war. We are here to work beside you. We as women want to fight behind them and die behind them no matter what they think about us. As women began to take roles that were once dominated by men the public attitudes towards them began to change. By the year 1918, President Woodrow Wilson told Congress that women's role in the war effort was vital to winning the war.

Workers-VotingRights_postcard_edited.jpg
MTY0NTUxMTA1Nzg5ODMwOTIx.webp

The Big Block Buster

The work we did helped more than we thought. Our mass participation in the war effort led to a wave of global suffrage in the waking of the war. However, was the war really the only thing that made this change. Many women achieved professional gain from their work  during the war. When the war began many women had to take up jobs that they often were behind the scenes on. For example the railroad was heavily run by men and typically the women's job would be to clean the cares and carter the guests.

 When the war-hit that all changed and now they were doing both. Not only did women take over jobs that were already in place new jobs were made for them. These jobs were called war-time jobs and they were made to keep up with the pace of the war. The war called for high demand in the medical field. Many organizations like the salvation army and the Red Cross depended on the women who volunteered. The American Red Cross operated the hospitals that took care of the war casualties. These hospitals were all staffed by nurses who just liked the men who died during their service in the war. Many of these women also served as U.S. Army Nurses and Navy Nurses. These women were spread out across the war to run hospitals and care for the soldiers. 

Home: Services
stairs.png

But in the end, we climbed it

The work force was not the first thing that women have faced over the years. We have two hundred years of accomplishments . Women have overcome many obstacles and there are so many more to go.

Home: Opening Hours

But Even I want Equality

Regardless of all the work, we put in it was still was not enough. They were still treating us as unequal. We were doing everything they were and it was still not enough for them. What is equality anymore, because we aren’t seeing it? It wasn't all about helping the boys over seas there was some personal gain as well. As women, we were looked down upon and were often discredited for the work we did. At the beginning of his presidency Wilson was against women's suffrage. It is often said the he believe that women should stay outside of the political and public sphere. However, when the NAWSA was created that change everything.

500 Terry Francois Street San Francisco, CA 94158

CattAddress3.jpg
Home: Contact
bottom of page