Final answer:
During the war, women took on non-traditional jobs and experienced temporary changes in gender roles, often at lower wages. Post-war, society generally reverted to traditional roles, but the war laid the groundwork for future changes and sparked a Baby Boom as families expanded in a period of economic security.
Step-by-step explanation:
Women contributed to the war effort in a variety of ways, including taking on jobs traditionally held by men, such as working in munitions factories and serving as nurses.
The war effort had both short-term and long-term impacts on women's lives, bringing both opportunities and challenges that redefined gender roles. In the short term, women gained employment, income, and a sense of pride; however, inequalities persisted in terms of duties and wages.
After the war, despite the economic boom, society largely returned to prewar gender roles, although the experiences and contributions during the war laid a foundation for future changes.
The war's end saw the beginning of the Baby Boom, with a surge in the population as the notion of family life was celebrated and economic security encouraged the growth of families.
Yet, this return to domesticity did not completely erase the sense of accomplishment and independence some women felt from their wartime roles. The war also brought to the forefront issues like child welfare and public education, due to the need for services to support children of working mothers.
Furthermore, wartime propaganda often minimized the challenge to traditional gender images while promoting women's work as part of their domestic duties. Post-war, many women faced unemployment or returned to traditional roles, even as some struggled with the constrained notions of womanhood after their wartime experiences.