# data[].attributes.body
National Geographic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Hidden Heroes of WWII Uncovered in 'D-Day Girls' | NowThis

# data[].attributes.body
Scope Video

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
During World War II the percentage of American women who worked outside the home at paying work increased from 25% to 36%. More married women, more mothers, and more minority women found jobs than had before the war.

Career Opportunities

Because of the absence of many men who either joined the military or took jobs in war production industries, some women moved outside their traditional roles and took positions in jobs usually reserved for men. Propaganda posters with images like " Rosie the Riveter" promoted the idea that it was patriotic-and not unfeminine-for women to work in non-traditional jobs. "If you've used an electric mixer in your kitchen, you can learn to run a drill press," urged an American War Manpower Campaign. As one example in the American shipbuilding industry, where women had been excluded from almost all jobs except a few office jobs before the war, women's presence went to over 9% of the workforce during the war.

Thousands of women moved to Washington, DC, to take government office and support jobs. There were many jobs for women at Los Alamos and Oak Ridge, as the US explored nuclear weapons. Minority women benefited from the June 1941, Executive Order 8802, issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, after A. Philip Randolph threatened a march on Washington to protest racial discrimination.

The shortage of male workers led to opportunities for women in other non-traditional fields. The All-American Girls Baseball League was created during this period and reflected the shortage of male baseball players in the major league.

Changes to Childcare

The large increase in the presence of women in the workforce also meant that those who were mothers had to deal with issues like childcare-finding quality childcare, and dealing with getting the children to and from the "day nursery" before and after work-and were often still primary or solo homemakers, dealing with the same rationing and other issues other women at home faced.

In cities like London, these changes at home were in addition to dealing with bombing raids and other wartime threats. When combat came to areas where civilians lived, it often largely fell to women to protect their families-children, the elderly-or to take them to safety and to continue to provide food and shelter during the emergency.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Women of World War II at Work in Offices and Factories

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
During World War II the percentage of American women who worked outside the home at paying work increased from 25% to 36%. More married women, more mothers, and more minority women found jobs than had before the war.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The cinema was another extremely popular pastime. Every week in Britain, between 25 and 30 million cinema tickets were sold. The epic American film Gone With The Wind (1940) was the smash hit of the war, but British films such as In Which We Serve (1942) and Millions Like Us (1943) were also highly successful.

All theatres were closed on the outbreak of war. Many reopened soon after, although most shows were matinées or early evening performances. In January 1940 the Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts (CEMA) was set up to support the arts during wartime. It organised concerts featuring classical music and drama, and took ballet and opera to new audiences. Originally a private venture, it was later sponsored by the government.

In 1939 theatre producer Basil Dean set up the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA) to provide entertainment for British troops. In 1940 ENSA also began arranging concerts for British civilian workers. The celebrated pianist, Myra Hess, also had the idea of holding concerts for Londoners at the National Gallery which had been empty since the evacuation of its artworks in autumn 1939. The Gallery hosted a series of lunchtime concerts throughout the war, featuring Hess and other classical performers. During air raids these were moved to the basement and on one occasion even continued without interruption despite a bomb exploding nearby. The concerts were immensely popular with Londoners and, especially during the Blitz, provided a welcome cultural break from the hardships of war.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Popular Pastimes And Entertainment In The Second World War

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Entertainment during the Second World War provided civilians with a form of escape from the hardships of wartime life. It was equally important to those serving in the forces, both in Britain and overseas.

# data[].attributes.body
Original Video

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Written by Claudia Reinhardt, the Ganzel Group.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
World War II Toys | Timeless Toys | WSKG

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
D-Day History For Kids | Bedtime History

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The fascist dictator of Germany and leader of the Nazis, Hitler started World War II and was responsible for the murder of millions of people.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
FDR and World War II (article) | Khan Academy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
After leading the United States through nearly a decade of Depression, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt took on the role of Commander-in-Chief when the United States entered the Second World War.