The Chicago Daily News
December 8, 1917
Thesis
Women: How They Have Welcomed the Challenge and Became the Workforce of America
Stepping Up and Getting the Job Done
"I've found the job where I fit best!"
Although the pictures we see often show women smiling and enjoying their jobs, that is not always the case. Some women feel intimidated and are worried of the work they do with hazardous chemicals. Some women also work alongside hostile men who refuse to help train them. This is not the norm however, as many women find their new jobs no less physically demanding as the ones they held before. Many women take pride in their jobs and are happy to help out in any way that they can. 3
Women on the Farm
Something that is often overlooked is the roles women had on farms. They took over for their husbands and ran farms with the same amount of proficiency and poise. They toiled in the fields and grew excess food to aid in the war effort. Food as everyone knows is a major part of winning this war and the farms around the country were able to help tremendously.4
Hartford, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
Women in the Military
Did you know that there are around 20,000 women who work for the military? They wash the soldiers clothing, sew and knit coats, underwear, and socks, and also cook for the soldiers, nurse the wounded and sick and aid in helping the soldiers survive.5 Women are relied on to be nurses and so much would go wrong if their number decreased. They are needed to keep the soldiers well and take care of the wounded. A popular poster reads: Nurses, the Call from No Mans Land is "Come Across".
YWCA
YWCA
The Young Women's Christian Association joined together with other organizations and formed the "Committee of Eleven" which is officially known as the United War Work Campaign, Inc. Other members of the group include the YMCA, American Library Association, National Catholic War Council, Knights of Columbus, Jewish Welfare Board, Salvation Army, and the War Camp Community Service, or WCCS. These groups formed to raise and distribute funds to air in the war relief effort, both here at home and in other countries. 6Of all of these organizations, the YWCA was the only women's organization. They are determined to meet the special needs of women and girls which were affected by war. These women raise money, recruit workers, expand their existing work, and expand their reach and capability to more people. The YWCA focuses around where soldiers are stationed such as bases or camps, where young women can be used for agricultural, industrial, and government work. 7
A large part of the YWCA effort includes Hostess Houses. These are places in which service men can visit with their family members and friends. The women who are a part of the YWCA have chose to leave their home and help others. They have chose to dedicate their life to helping others and allowing other women to have a better life. 8