The Women’s Land Army was organized to deploy volunteers to work on farms and pick crops.  Over a million women and girls participated, although wages were low and they had to pay for their room and board.

WOMEN IN PRODUCTION

National Director of the Women’s Land Army, Florence L. Hall (left) visiting the LaFollette Peach Orchard in Marion County, Oregon in 1944
Credit:  Courtesy Oregon State University

 

 


In the cities, women took traditionally male jobs such as transit workers and taxi drivers. Women were hired to drive trucks and deliver mail. Below are women working as postal carriers in Washington, D.C.
Credit:  Library of Congress

Professional and technical jobs in radio and journalism, the dominant communications media of the day, opened up to women.

Margaret Bourke-White was among the women journalists given an opportunity to participate in radio and magazines. Her LIFE magazine photos covered the European front.

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Agricultural schools trained women for farm work, including
sheep shearing, tractor driving and equipment operation
Credit: Business and Professional Women/USA

Life magazine, 27 September 1943
Credit:  Women’s Memorial