Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps

Wo manpowers arma ment Auxiliary army corps Take the women into the gird service, who then will do the cooking, the washing, the mending, the humble and groundworky tasks to which every womanhood has devoted herself? From the m out(p)h of a man who was against women joining the Armed Forces of the get together States during human beings Wars I (WWI) and II (WWII) (Monahan). In 1917, thousands of women served during World War I (WWI), continually fighting a battle to become part of the get together States the States, a battle they were not winning (Monahan).They were nursing, supporting and helping the soldiery forces overseas, but they were not recognized. During that time period legion(predicate) soldiery Officers dictate formal requests into the War Department to allow the recruitment and enlistment of women, nerve-racking to stimulate a post horse to establish a Womens phalanx Auxiliary Corps (WAAC). Secretary of War, Newton D. Baker, disagreed with this suggesti on of a bill and the requests to establish a womens service corps within the U. S. Army (Monahan).After the fight was over the push for a WAAC was forgotten, out of sight out of mind, until World War II. The basis of the WAAC was to allow women into the Army and to try to create an equal environment for men and women from which the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence says we be built upon. When WWII kicked off women were not con grimacered part of the Army, but they were allowed to help with many different roles. This time period posed many opportunities for American women, some(prenominal) domestically as well as roles they could play in the war.A fine-looking issue that dominated womens lives during this period was how to combine floor-life with the new demands of the war economy in the publics eyes. Women had made a hardly a(prenominal) gains between WWI and WWII in the legions in terms of the political entice effeminate workers were utilized for short-term gains during the war, with a long-term goal of see women return to the domestic sphere and reinforcing traditional gender roles (Crockrord).Women who chose to help the military in times of war had to obtain their own food and quarters, they had no legal protection or medical care and most importantly they were not authorise to any type of disability benefits or pensions the Veterans were entitled to (Holm). Congresswoman, Edith Nourse Rogers of Massachusetts was determined to change this, she introduced a bill on may 28, 1941, to establish a Womens Army Auxiliary Corps, and the bill at last succeeded because in that respect was no hint of full status for women which meant women would be ecognized as supporting the Army but they would still not be a part of the Army (Holm). She felt women and men should induce the equivalent benefits and should be treated equally. When the final bill for the WAAC was presented both sides had to compromise, the women and the mens side serving in the military (Bellafaire). The bill passed, and the bill passing meant that women would be allowed to serve with the Army but they still would not receive the same pay or promotions and lot of the benefits that the men accredited. They did however receive food, uniforms, alive quarters, minimal pay and medical care.There was also a lot of digest on preventing women from attaining high rank and on placing women in positions where they could give orders to men (Bellafaire). For example, although the duties of a WAAC first officer were comparable to those of a male captain, she received pay equivalent to that of a male first lieutenant (Bellafaire). Unfortunately, there were still many things that women had to overcome serving with the military. Men constantly criticized female soldiers, saying that they needed to be home with their family and community.They didnt want a change and women in the military represented just that. The Office of censorship ran a pole and discovered 84 per centum of soldiers letters mentioning the WAAC were reproachful (Bellafaire). They were questioning the moral values of women attracted to the military service and passed these beliefs to their families at home (Bellafaire). One of the biggest challenges that were faced with the WAAC was the rumors. Most of the rumors were started because they many were trying to force women fend for to their domestic lifestyles (Bellafaire).Many men started to say women of the WAAC were pregnant or were prostitutes the women were often returned home based on the rumors and not factual evidence (Bellafaire). One novel that was told was that any soldier seen dating a WAAC would be seized by Army authorities and provided with medical treatment (Bellafaire). Though there were many rumors rough the WAAC and they were under serious scrutiny, Congress opened a hearing in March 1943 on the conversion of the WAAC into the Regular Army, hoping that it would help to mitigate the rumors and help the w omen become more of an integral part of the Army (Holm).Army leaders asked for the license to convert the WAAC into the Womens Army Corps, which would be part of the Army itself rather than merely serving with it (Holm). On July 3, 1943 the WAC was signed into law and all WAACs were given the choice of joining the Army as a fragment of the WAC or returning to civilian life. Many decided to join, 25 percent decided to leave the service (Bellafaire). Women in the military have been an submissive part of our history. The WAAC was the first step for them becoming part of the military.Looking at the larger picture, whether women were a part of the WAAC, the WAC or just the plain old Army today there will always be a present for women. Even in todays world women constantly have to fight for their roles and to prove themselves. The Declaration of Independents states, we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal (Jefferson), men is all people, including wome n. It is always a constant battle for equality, the WAAC was a positive step in that direction and it has solo gotten better. Works CitedBellafaire, Judith. The Womens Army Corps A Commemoration of World War II Service. www. history. army. mil/brochures/WAC/WAC. htm. CHM Publication, 17 Feb. 2005. Web. 29 June 2012. Crockrord, Vanessa. Oveta Culp Hobby and Her Lieutenants Transformational leading in Action in the Womens Army Auxiliary Corps of World War II. Dissertation. 2003. Electronic. 29 June 2012. Holm, Jeanne. Women in the Military An Unfinished Revolution. Novato Presidio Press, 1982. Print. Monahan, Evelyn. A Few Good Women. New York Random House, 2010. Print.