Final answer:
The smaller available workforce during World War II led to an increase in women's roles in the workplace, filling jobs left by men who went to war. Women participated in historically male-dominated fields but faced wage disparities and societal expectations to leave these jobs post-war. The workforce shortage and surge in military enlistment also caused logistical difficulties for the armed forces.
Step-by-step explanation:
During World War II, the workforce dynamics changed dramatically as many men went off to fight, leaving behind a smaller available workforce. This led to a significant increase in female employment, as women were called upon to fill roles traditionally held by men. Women took on jobs in manufacturing and became a crucial part of the war effort, with many working in defense industries and munitions plants. In the United States, about 1 million women entered jobs previously closed to them, increasing the overall percentage of working women by 6 percent. Female workers in Europe faced even greater changes; in Britain and Germany, a substantial number of women took up industrial labor to support their countries' war efforts.
However, despite the influx of women into the workforce, there was still strong resistance to women taking over roles that were seen as "male". Societal norms dictated that women's involvement in factory work was a temporary solution to the wartime labor shortage. Female workers often faced wage disparities, earning on average only 65 percent of what men earned for equivalent work. Furthermore, once the war ended, many women were expected to leave their jobs to make room for returning servicemen.
The need for a larger workforce led to various changes in the military as well. Nations hastily recruited more soldiers, often using systems like conscription or enthusiastic volunteer enlistment. However, this resulted in logistical challenges, untrained troops, and a lack of resources, highlighting the strain on the armed forces and the nation's infrastructure.