Did women volunteers serve in World War II?
The dominant opinion throughout most of history was that women and war don’t mix. This was partly because societies valued women as child-bearers. It was also due to the prevailing opinion that they weren’t strong enough to wield heavy weapons in battle or sharp enough to understand tactical war strategies. Besides a few notable exceptions, such as Joan of Arc, women were banned from combat — but that’s not to say they were shielded from the horrors of war. On the contrary, as nurses caring for wounded soldiers, women were often exposed to the brunt of the blood and gore. In the course of World War II, however, women’s roles were changing on all fronts. The U.S. military, which was eager to boost its numbers, warmed up to the idea of allowing women into positions previously reserved for men. During World War I, a loophole was discovered in the Naval Reserve Act of 1916.
