Recently in class we were able to have the experience of having first hand examples and primary source explanations of how women were treated and how they were able to help out in World War II. This experience was able to open our eyes to how women were able to become an active part of the war and hear real life stories of how lives were changed. With Amelia McDanel, Marion Cadwell and Sara Schantz presenting to us along with Marion Cadwell’s war life story. Here is what we were able to learn.
Marion Cadwell was a native Montanan, parachute rigger, technical illustrator, and feminist. During her childhood she was “kept in a state of not belonging” and believed that, “military was a dream especially with the glamour of the uniforms.” She first was ready to become part of the war when she saw an article in the Billings Gazette that the government had sent out that asked for leather and canvas workers that could sew very well. To her this was a route out of Billings.
Her first assignment was to design her own uniform and her other jobs were to repair flight suites that were made of leather and had sheep skin linings. She was also required to pack parachutes. She was able to also make an example to other women by being involved in the war which may have encouraged other women to help. This was a big deal for her along with other women to be part of the war. Women hadn’t had the chance much before this to be part of such a public event. As the war preceded women were given chances to become involved.
When asked what she remembered about Victory of Japan Day she said, “I remember thinking this is the end. This is such an end because I was all alone in that particular moment,” she added, “that is the remembrance that I have of that particular moment. Yet she wanted to make sure that we all knew, “I have been in it, and I won’t forget it.” She also wanted us to realize that she thought about herself in one particular way, “I felt I was a feminist long before the word existed.” After giving her first hand account of what was going on she stated as a conclusion, “War is hell!”
How do you feel about the way women's rights changed in WWII? Explain thoroughly.
Cassie P., Kyrstyn M., Jordan J.
Period 5
During World War II many women had to join the work force to compensate for the men from the United States who had to leave and fight over seas. On April 21, 2009 One of the ladies who joined the work force named Marion Cadwell came in and talked to the history class of Skyview Highschool to explain to us the jobs women did while the men were at war. As a child Marion Cadwell grew up in Roundup and as a teenager went to Billings High which is now known as Senior High.
At the age of twenty Marion Cadwell wanted to join the job force. Her father did not want his only daughter to join the work force because he believed that it was not a woman's job, but in the end Marion joined anyways and went to Spokane to work as a parachute packer. Because of her experience sewing, Marion was put on sewing the parachutes together and to pack them into the packs. She did this for the remainder of her work force. One of the facts she told us was that before the war started men and the women who did work were paid thirty five cents an hour which was still during the depression, and by the end of the war Marion was getting paid a dollar twenty one.
At the end of the war Marion ended up marring a veteran bomber pilot and learned how to fly which was one of the things she longed to learn. Also she enrolled in Bozeman College to get a degree in art with the money she had saved with V-bonds.
With the information you have just learned about Marion, and the other information you have learned about the women's work force movement create a Wordle and send to fettigb@billings.k12.mt.us
Hillary K.
Brandon B.
Period 4
Imagine it's 1942 and you're a twenty year old female and your country was just bombed by Japan. Marion Cadwell was just one of the heroic women who joined the workforce to do her part in the war effort. Many women were denied jobs because of the stereotypes that have existed throughout history. WWII was a great start to help women begin their independence from men. This is a common story in the beginning of World War II. Many women did various jobs to help with the war such as parachute rigger, riveter, and ship builder. Take a look at the video above and research job opportunities for women during WWII and decide what job your would do and why. Also would you be OK being payed less and treated worse than men?
Landry B., Joetta L., and Sonja C.
History 3
_DS.jpg)
The iconic "Can Do" attitude shown by Rosie-the-Riveter and other Americans during WWII commands respect and admiration from later generations examining this era. To push on--despite enormous odds--defines perseverance and the quest of working for the greater good. Presenting a classic struggle, WWII required that every citizen step up to the plate and contribute to the war effort. And as often plays out, times of great struggle often present opportunities for great change.
American history is rich with examples of the integral roles women play in wartime. WWII, however, presented a new challenge. Charged with "building the arsenal of democracy" and coupled with labor shortages, American women poured into factories in large numbers and excelled at jobs that had been typically reserved for men. According to the Office of War Information, the ability to sell the conflict as "a woman's war too" was vital to attracting the needed laborers. As stated in The Basic Plan for Womanpower (Office of War Information): "These jobs will have to be glorified as a patriotic war service if American women are to be persuaded to take them and stick to them. Their importance to a nation engaged in total war must be convincing presented." In surveying popular Americana of that age--from posters, to articles, and songs--it was done effectively. Rosie's call to toil as an American worker was patriotically pitched.
That said, changing popular mindset regarding femininity and the workplace, would prove a harder sell. As examined in "The 1943 Guide to Hiring Women," stereotypes and misconceptions regarding women's (dis)abilities were abundant. One Skyview junior noted, "It's like they're describing another species or something." A common goal uniting these workers was the need to prove that they could do the job right, as good as any man. In doing so, many gained the respect of their male counterparts.
But, all was not necessarily "rosie." While positions were often advertised as permanent work, some women discovered they were no longer wanted in the workplace, once the war was over. Also, women performing the same tasks as men (often in concert with them) found their pay to be anything but equal. Even so, Rosie-the-Riveters paved the way for many new occupations in the workforce, along with the belief that women could shoulder the work.
Guest lecturers from the Museum of Women's History are scheduled to address Ms. Fettig's juniors on Tuesday, April 21st. In addition to sharing their stories and observations, primary source documents and artifacts will be examined. In regards to the presentation, each class period will feature a post on this blog for further commentary. Some of these posts will alos appear on wikis and blogs within Billings Public Schools for additional dissemination, particularly with Heights elementary schools.
This blog has been created for Skyview students' to share information, ideas, questions, answers, suggestions, and resources. Acknowledging the fact that the world is getting flatter, it is ultimately intended to stretch education beyond typical brick and mortar walls, to the world at large.
Each class period will be responsible for a monthly posting on a topic of their choosing. The post must deal with the historical period at hand, and should include both text and visuals. One half hour per week of classroom time will be allocated for this task. Most likely, additional time will be needed outside of class time. Though the entire class will be assisting, responsibility and accountability fall on the shoulders of the team selected for that month's posting.
To help generate involvement, extra credit for comments posted (amount depends on quality of response) will be awarded. That said, please take time to personally invite YOUR community of family and friends to read and comment our YOUR blog!
Recently in class we were able to have the experience of having first hand examples and primary source explanations of how women were treated and how they were able to help out in World War II. This experience was able to open our eyes to how women were able to become an active part of the war and hear real life stories of how lives were changed. With Amelia McDanel, Marion Cadwell and Sara Schantz presenting to us along with Marion Cadwell’s war life story. Here is what we were able to learn.
_DS.jpg)
