As we approach the 50th anniversary of America's entrance into World War II, a book that examines the contributions made by women to the war effort seems highly appropriate. For the first time, "American Women and World War II" presents a vigorous overview of the diverse roles adopted by women in one of the most critical periods of 20th-century history. Relying heavily on contemporary news reporting, magazine articles and personal diaries, the book vividly charts the experiences of typical American women as they undertook a whole range of new responsibilities. The book focuses on the four broad areas of female involvement, and to this end it is organized into the following sections: -Be a nurse and see the world. This section records the experiences of the thousands of American women who went overseas to tend to the wounded and dying, often in harsh surroundings with scant equipment and support. -The military woman. World War II marked the beginning of a permanent place for women in the US military. This section explores women's new roles in all areas of the armed forces, from the WASPS and the WAFS to the WACS and the WAVES. -The new industrial woman. With 10 million men away at the front, women became essential cogs in the US production machine. Stark insights are brought to bear on the conditions and types of work performed by women in munitions plants, airplane and tank factories, etc. -The home front. This section takes a kong-overdue look at how the war affected the typical housewife, including how women coped with rationing, what civil volunteer forces women joined, and what form wartime marriages took. Each section is enhanced by 20 black-and-white illustrations that portray women in all their diverse roles. The book as a whole contains exhaustive source notes, a bibliographical note and a thorough index. Back cover.

pt. 1. --Be a nurse and see the world. -- Military nurses in battle -- Calling all nightingales -- pt. 2. -- The military woman. -- Duty calls-women enter the military -- You're in the army now-life in the camps -- What GI Jane learned -- The problems she faced -- The skeptics convert -- pt. 3. -- The new industrial woman. -- Recruitment of a new labor force -- Rosie the riveter rallies to new jobs -- Women's problem are production's problems -- Balancing act: managing job and home -- From blue collar to pink: women and industry change each other -- pt. 4. -- The home front. -- The normal housewife in abnormal times -- Volunteers and more -- Wartime wedding -- The waiting wife -- "The war departments regrets..." -- pt. 5. -- Afterward.