"We Also Serve": American Indian Women's Role in World War II

Abstract

World War II was an era in which many groups in American society, as well as women of all ages, took advantage of less restrictive job market. In fact, an historian in early 'seventies claimed that the war marked a watershed in history of women at work. While this concept may have been overstated, since resistance to women in workplace continued, increasing drain of male workers forced women to be drawn into labor market. This was, for instance, first time in history that federal government encouraged and recruited women who had never participated in labor force. As war continued, women already in work force experienced increased occupational mobility. Professional women overcame some of gender-based barriers preventing employment in higher-paying, more-prestigious jobs, and women of color gained entry to jobs previously denied them because of race. Native American women also took advantage of this era of opportunity. An exodus from Indian reservations occurred as more than 65,000 people left for armed forces and defense-related industry; at least one-fifth of all able-bodied women on reservations found outside employment.2 Change for American Indians, however, did not occur simply with movement off reservation. Women who remained to secure