I can’t get over the fact that this paper calls women, “girls”. Audrey has been working at Pratt & Whitney and is an “old married women” as Leonard called her. Meanwhile, some women are saying no to marriage and joining the military. In 1942, the military has opened up and women are joining all branches. Allowing women to serve as full, permanent members of all branches of the Armed Forces won’t be official for a while: In 1948 that President Harry S. Truman signs the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act into law. Yep, it took that long.
NOTE– the Navy agrees that a woman is master of her own face but birth control is illegal so women are at the mercy of laws and cannot plan for their own futures. It’s also a crazy religious town so shame can be a heavy weight too. No worry though – “girls” can decide on their own makeup and figure… as long as it’s not conspicuous.
The following is from newspapers.com and the Boston Globe August 15, 1942:
WAAC Salute – and there it is again; “…the girls are…”
I love these women; they’re so confident, smart, and brave. Can you imagine what they have to go through? They have to be tough. They are pioneers!
From newspapers.com and the Boston Globe August 15, 1942
