World War 1: American Legacy (Women Clip)

Summary

When the US entered World War I, there was a sudden need for women to fill vital roles, from nurses and cooks to seamstresses and translators. Women joined the Army, Navy, and even the Marines, with nearly 20,000 Red Cross nurses serving overseas. Many women, including daughters of wealthy families, volunteered in France, finding a new sense of purpose. The war, often seen as an awakening for these privileged women, gave them the opportunity to contribute in meaningful ways. The media spotlighted their efforts, presenting them as symbols of dedication and service during a time of national crisis.

Takeaways

• 😀 When the US entered World War I, there was an urgent need for women to support the war effort, alongside the demand for soldiers.
• 😀 Women played crucial roles in various non-combatant positions such as nurses, translators, stenographers, cooks, and switchboard operators.
• 😀 Thousands of seamstresses were required to supply the army with uniforms.
• 😀 Women volunteered to serve in the Army, Navy, and Marines, with a significant number joining the Red Cross and YMCA.
• 😀 Nearly 20,000 Red Cross nurses served with the Army and Navy, with many of them deployed overseas.
• 😀 Female Salvation Army volunteers worked as nurses and in frontline canteens, providing meals and coffee to soldiers.
• 😀 The war opened new opportunities for ordinary women across the United States, allowing them to pursue a different life and contribute to the war effort.
• 😀 Many women who volunteered in France were from wealthy families, including daughters of the elite society class and girls from prestigious institutions like Smith College.
• 😀 Newspapers, like Stars and Stripes, publicized the volunteer efforts of high-society girls with headlines portraying them as dedicated war workers.
• 😀 While the volunteering of elite women was often portrayed as propaganda, it was true that they made a significant contribution to the war effort.
• 😀 The war provided these privileged women with a chance to experience a bigger life and participate in meaningful work, waking them up to the realities of life outside of their previous societal roles.

Q & A

Why did the United States suddenly need large numbers of women when they entered the war?

The United States needed large numbers of women as much as it needed soldiers because men were required to fight in the trenches, while women were needed for roles like nurses, translators, stenographers, cooks, and switchboard operators.

What roles did women fulfill during the war?

Women served in various roles, including nurses, translators, stenographers, cooks, seamstresses, and switchboard operators. They also volunteered with organizations like the Red Cross and the Salvation Army.

How many Red Cross nurses served with the Army and Navy during the war?

Nearly 20,000 Red Cross nurses served with the Army and Navy Nurse Corps, with half of them serving overseas.

What was the role of female Salvation Army volunteers during the war?

Female Salvation Army volunteers worked as nurses and in frontline canteens, serving hot meals, donuts, and coffee to soldiers.

How did volunteering in the war provide women with a chance at a different life?

Women had the opportunity to experience a different life by traveling to Europe and playing a crucial role in the war effort, often participating in important volunteer roles that had been previously unavailable to them.

Who were some of the women volunteering in France during the war?

Among the volunteers in France were many daughters of the wealthy society class, including girls from elite women's institutions like Smith College.

How did the media portray the daughters of privilege volunteering during the war?

The media portrayed the daughters of privilege as important figures in the war effort, with headlines like 'Society girl wields brush and soap as her war weapons,' highlighting their involvement in roles such as nurses and support workers.

Were the media stories about society girls volunteering true?

Yes, although the media coverage was somewhat propaganda, it was also true that many wealthy girls volunteered and contributed significantly to the war effort, even though they couldn't fight like their brothers.

What impact did the war have on the women from wealthy families?

The war woke up many women from privileged backgrounds, offering them a chance to do something meaningful and useful. Some who had previously lived a life of leisure found purpose and became conscientious and hard-working volunteers.

What was the perspective of an army head nurse on the volunteers from society families?

An army head nurse remarked that some of the most conscientious and hardest-working volunteers were girls from wealthy families who had previously led sheltered lives. The war gave them the opportunity to step up and contribute.