Women have always been involved in U.S. military actions serving as nurses and doctors, cooks, laundresses, members of volunteer organizations such as the American Red Cross, and even by disguising themselves as male soldiers.
However, it wasn’t until World War II that the military launched extensive campaigns to encourage women to join the Army, the Navy, the Marines, the Coast Guard and the Air Force. To encourage enlistment, the U.S. government published recruitment materials specifically targeting women. Like the recruiting pitches aimed towards men, these publications emphasized patriotism, the chance for adventure, and career training opportunities. However, these materials for women also included careful reassurances that military service was compatible with traditional ideas of femininity.
This exhibit features copies and originals of official U.S. military recruiting brochures from the 1940s to the 1970s. The brochures highlight the attractiveness of the uniforms, tout the variety of jobs for which women are eligible, and offer careful reassurances that military service is compatible with traditional ideas of femininity.
