United States entry into World War II made women enter the industrial workforce in large numbers for the first time.
The skilled labor of women was symbolized in the United States by the concept of Rosie the Riveter, a hardworking woman who performed work that was once considered 'men's work'.
With this expanded horizon of opportunities and confidence, and with the extended knowledge base, many women could now have paid and voluntary employment, the roles of women in World War II were much broader than in World War I.
In 1945, more than 2.2 million women worked in the war industries, in the construction of ships, aircraft, vehicles and weapons. The women also worked in factories, ammunition plants and farms, and also drove trucks, provided logistical support for the soldiers and entered professional work areas that were previously the exclusive domain of men.
