American Women in a World at War: Contemporary Accounts from World War II / Edition 1

by Judy Barrett Litoff, David C. Smith

Overview

This title brings together twenty-five writings by women who share their rich and varied World War II experiences, from serving in the military to working on the home front to preparing for the postwar world. By providing evidence of their active and resourceful roles in the war effort as workers, wives, and mothers, these women offer eloquent testimony that World War II was indeed everybody's war.

Litoff and Smith combine pieces by well-known writers, such as Margaret Culkin Banning and Nancy Wilson Ross, with important-but largely forgotten-personal accounts by ordinary women living in extraordinary times. This volume is divided into the six sections listed below:

Preparing for War

In the Military

At 'Far-Flung' Fronts

On the Home Front

War Jobs

Preparing for the Postwar World

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780842025713
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	12/01/1996
Series:	The Worlds of Women Series , #1
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	237
Product dimensions:	6.09(w) x 9.06(h) x 0.74(d)

About the Author

Judy Barrett Litoff is professor of history at Bryant College. David C. Smith is Bird and Bird Professor of History Emeritus at the University of Maine.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction Part 2 I Preparing for War Chapter 3 Women for Defense Chapter 4 Women in the War Chapter 5 The Negro Woman in National Defense Part 6 II In the Military Chapter 7 Yes, Ma'am!: The Personal Papers of a WAAC Private Chapter 8 The WAVES: The Story of the Girls in Blue Chapter 9 Three Years Behind the Mast Chapter 10 Shakedown Cruise Part 11 III At "Far-Flung" Fronts Chapter 12 Navy Nurse Chapter 13 I Served on Bataan Chapter 14 G.I. Nightingale Chapter 15 Home Away from Home Chapter 16 I Knew Your Soldier Chapter 17 Shooting the Russian War Part 18 IV On the Home Front Chapter 19 Camp Follower Chapter 20 If Your Baby Must Travel in Wartime Chapter 21 So Your Husband's Gone to War! Chapter 22 The Negro Woman Serves America Part 23 War Jobs Chapter 24 Arms and the Girl Chapter 25 Negro Women War Workers Chapter 26 Shipyard Diary of a Woman Welder Chapter 27 Women and Farm Work Part 28 VI Preparing for the Postwar World Chapter 29 Out of the Kitchen—Into the War Chapter 30 Women Workers in Transition from War to Peace Chapter 31 Women's Responsibility in World Affairs Chapter 32 Our Stake in Tomorrow's World Chapter 33 Suggested Readings

What People are Saying About This

Glenda Riley

The women here almost leap from the pages and pull the reader into their stories. Thanks to Litoff and SMith for retrieving this crucial segment of women's history.

Editorial Reviews

American Women in a World at War provides abundant materials (many of which have been out of print) on gender, class and race during World War II.

Feminist Bookstore News

With the publication of American Women in a World at War, we know that women of all races and classes fought on both the home front and the battlefront. An invaluable collection of contemporary accounts by American women who fought the war.

William M. Tuttle Jr.

The women here almost leap from the pages and pull the reader into their stories. Thanks to Litoff and SMith for retrieving this crucial segment of women's history.

Glenda Riley

Well balanced by roles, race, and region, this collection provides fascinating insight into what it meant to be an American woman during World War II.

D'Ann Campbell

An interesting book, pioneering in many ways, and a definite contribution to the history of U.S. participation in World War II, its stories gathered into a bouquet of historical documentation.

International Social Science Review

The women here almost leap from the pages and pull the reader into their stories. Thanks to Litoff and SMith for retrieving this crucial segment of women's history.--Glenda Riley

Well balanced by roles, race, and region, this collection provides fascinating insight into what it meant to be an American woman during World War II.--D'Ann Campbell, Austin Peay State University

With the publication of American Women in a World at War, we know that women of all races and classes fought on both the home front and the battlefront. An invaluable collection of contemporary accounts by American women who fought the war.--William M. Tuttle Jr., author of Race Riot: Chicago in the Red Summer of 1919 and Daddy's Gone to War The Second World War in the Lives of America's Children

From the Publisher

A collection of 25 excerpts and short pieces describing women preparing for war, in the military, at far-flung fronts, on the home front, in war jobs, and preparing for the postwar world. Among the accounts are the negro women in national defense, three years behind the mast, shooting the Russian war, babies who must travel (US government publication), and the shipyard diary of a woman welder. Includes a list of recommended reading, but no index or references. Paper edition (unseen), $16.95. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews

Well crafted... American Women in a World at War clearly demonstrates that American women were actively engaged in the war effort.

Midwest Book Review