Final answer:
During World War II, women played a significant role in the workforce and took on jobs that had previously been closed to them. Many women in the United States joined the armed forces or worked in defense industries, while in countries like Germany and Great Britain, women were engaged in extensive industrial labor. Female employment increased by 6 percent in the United States and over 1 million women entered new job fields.
Step-by-step explanation:
During World War II, women played a significant role in the workforce. Approximately 1 million American women entered jobs that had previously been closed to them, such as repairing airplanes, driving trucks, and serving as nurses. In countries like Germany and Great Britain, even more women were engaged in industrial labor, with two out of every five munitions workers in Germany being female and over 5 million women working in industrial labor in Great Britain.
In the United States, while female employment increased by only 6 percent, women took on occupations in the defense industries that were typically held by men. They also contributed to the war effort by recycling materials, buying war bonds, and planning meals using rationed foods. Overall, World War II provided unprecedented labor opportunities for women, giving them the chance to take on roles that were traditionally seen as exclusive to men.