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A National Archives Foundation educational resource using primary sources from the National Archives

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Women at Work: World War II

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Seeing the Big Picture

During World War II, manpower shortages and increased war production created new opportunities for women in previously male-dominated fields in the military, industry, and other professional occupations. The photographs and posters below reflect women’s varied wartime service.

For each document, click on the “Open in New Window” icon for a larger view of the photograph or poster and to see additional document details. Then, match each photograph to its corresponding poster (one photograph per poster).

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View the full activity: https://docsteach.org/activity/women-at-work-world-war-ii/

Each pairing will connect to the six types of positions that women filled during World War II listed below:

  1. Noncombat Military Position (e.g. WACs, WAVES, SPARs, Marines)
  2. Defense Industry Workers
  3. Women’s Land Army
  4. Home Front Volunteers
  5. Red Cross Volunteers
  6. Army and Navy Nurses
public-domain
To the extent possible under law, National Archives Foundation has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to “Women at Work: World War II”