LIFE ON THE HOME FRONT
Life on the home front is the story of Helen Brown who was a “Rosie the Riveter” during World War Two. This meant that she took up men’s work while the war was going on. Helen told her story to Harold Phillips in 2002 for the Henley Library Archives and the Winchester Fredrick Country Historical Society. In her story she talks about Uncle Sam saying “I need you” on bill boards, this is a hint at the war propaganda that was seen during this time. Specifically the propaganda aimed at women. Posters of women being patriotic on the home front, such as “Rosie the Riveter,” who was the poster child of women aimed propaganda at the time. Rosie was usually seen working with machinery and with some hint at patriotism, like the American flag behind her (587). Helen was like Rosie because she worked at Goodyear Aircraft working on the planes, doing office work, or any work that was needed. Along with working Helen participated in rationing, twelve weekly rationing points were given to each person; she personally used this for leather, shoes, gas, and groceries (596). Helen luckily lived on a farm so they grew their own fruits and vegetables and had their own meat, so they didn't have to withhold on food as much as other people. Due to the rationing of the war effort Helen took the bus to save gas. Many people did this, which caused the buses to be crowded and made people have to wait two to three buses until they could get on one (588). Helen believed that during the war were the saddest days of her life. As a women Helen was greatly influenced by the war, this is shown in her story greatly.
Helen’s decision of working during the war time was based off of propaganda. Her seeing Uncle Sam on every bill board stating “I need you” made her decision (588). She believed that this referred to her because there weren't many men in the community due to majority of them joining the fight overseas. This is what Helen believes to be the main reason for working. It is also apparent that she was influenced by war time propaganda by seeing herself as a “Rosie the Riveter.” However, there could have been other influences that she didn't notice. She had two brothers fighting in the war and a sweetheart fighting as well. This could be a reason to work. Many people viewed women working as a way to support their love ones overseas. She could have believed this as well and began working. Along with supporting her loved ones Helen could have worked because of the benefits of night classes. The company that she worked for offered night classes that she admitted to taking advantage of. Another possible underlying influence would be the pay that she was given for her work. Helen was paid $1.97 by the end of war. This would allow Helen to have independence that is seen throughout this time for women. However these are just speculations of what could influence her. The only influence that is truly addressed in her story is the influence of war time propaganda.
Helens leisure time was greatly influenced from the war. She stated that, “the war was the saddest days of my life” (588), this was due to her fear of losing her loved ones in the war. Her leisure time was marked with worry and anxiety of the unknown. Also the war time influenced the use of buses, so anytime she would go somewhere she would need to take a bus; this may have require her to have to wait through multiple buses before finally boarding one. If she could, then she would go to friend’s house to listen to records, exchange books, etc. (588). She also would send letters to service men. She wrote her sweetheart every day and received 500 letters from him. Another thing that she would do in her leisure time would go downtown to the USO (United Service Organization) because there would be several military service boys there (588). The war caused for little communication, so Helen would also listen to the radio for news and information. All of Helens leisure time activities and emotions were completely based around the war. The war was a constant topic on her mind and caused for change in her community.
This source allows us to see women’s lives on the home front during World War Two. It gives a clear example of how women were influenced off of propaganda to become patriotic and begin working. Helen Brown gives us this example which shows us how much war propaganda actually worked and truly influenced the targeted audience. It gives us an insight of how proud the women of the era were about their jobs. However, it also shows us the heartbreak of war. Helens fears for her loved ones give us an idea of how the women of the home front saw the war. Yes they viewed it as an act of patriotism, but also saw it as a means to the deaths of friends and family. It also allows us to see how the war affected their lives outside of work and personal affairs. Rationing is a well-known wartime event, but the influences of it towards transportation (buses) aren't known as well as grocery rationing. This source lets us see firsthand experience of rationing during the war. Helen also feeling like there was very little communication gives us a better understanding on how the radio became a common thing during this time. It also shows why women would view this as the saddest part of their lives. Not knowing what is truly happening to your loved ones, except for the little news from the radio and on rare occasion’s letters, gave good reasoning for women to be saddened. This is important because whenever you look back at World War Two you imagine a beautiful working women smiling and never picture women being sad about the fact of being at war. This source allows us to see the truth of the home front for women during World War Two and gives us a better understanding of how the war influenced women’s lives more than just getting jobs.
Helen’s decision of working during the war time was based off of propaganda. Her seeing Uncle Sam on every bill board stating “I need you” made her decision (588). She believed that this referred to her because there weren't many men in the community due to majority of them joining the fight overseas. This is what Helen believes to be the main reason for working. It is also apparent that she was influenced by war time propaganda by seeing herself as a “Rosie the Riveter.” However, there could have been other influences that she didn't notice. She had two brothers fighting in the war and a sweetheart fighting as well. This could be a reason to work. Many people viewed women working as a way to support their love ones overseas. She could have believed this as well and began working. Along with supporting her loved ones Helen could have worked because of the benefits of night classes. The company that she worked for offered night classes that she admitted to taking advantage of. Another possible underlying influence would be the pay that she was given for her work. Helen was paid $1.97 by the end of war. This would allow Helen to have independence that is seen throughout this time for women. However these are just speculations of what could influence her. The only influence that is truly addressed in her story is the influence of war time propaganda.
Helens leisure time was greatly influenced from the war. She stated that, “the war was the saddest days of my life” (588), this was due to her fear of losing her loved ones in the war. Her leisure time was marked with worry and anxiety of the unknown. Also the war time influenced the use of buses, so anytime she would go somewhere she would need to take a bus; this may have require her to have to wait through multiple buses before finally boarding one. If she could, then she would go to friend’s house to listen to records, exchange books, etc. (588). She also would send letters to service men. She wrote her sweetheart every day and received 500 letters from him. Another thing that she would do in her leisure time would go downtown to the USO (United Service Organization) because there would be several military service boys there (588). The war caused for little communication, so Helen would also listen to the radio for news and information. All of Helens leisure time activities and emotions were completely based around the war. The war was a constant topic on her mind and caused for change in her community.
This source allows us to see women’s lives on the home front during World War Two. It gives a clear example of how women were influenced off of propaganda to become patriotic and begin working. Helen Brown gives us this example which shows us how much war propaganda actually worked and truly influenced the targeted audience. It gives us an insight of how proud the women of the era were about their jobs. However, it also shows us the heartbreak of war. Helens fears for her loved ones give us an idea of how the women of the home front saw the war. Yes they viewed it as an act of patriotism, but also saw it as a means to the deaths of friends and family. It also allows us to see how the war affected their lives outside of work and personal affairs. Rationing is a well-known wartime event, but the influences of it towards transportation (buses) aren't known as well as grocery rationing. This source lets us see firsthand experience of rationing during the war. Helen also feeling like there was very little communication gives us a better understanding on how the radio became a common thing during this time. It also shows why women would view this as the saddest part of their lives. Not knowing what is truly happening to your loved ones, except for the little news from the radio and on rare occasion’s letters, gave good reasoning for women to be saddened. This is important because whenever you look back at World War Two you imagine a beautiful working women smiling and never picture women being sad about the fact of being at war. This source allows us to see the truth of the home front for women during World War Two and gives us a better understanding of how the war influenced women’s lives more than just getting jobs.
HISTORICAL QUOTES
This quote by Dellie Hahne shows how women of the time got a sense of freedom from war time jobs. Which is what Helen Brown went through.
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"I think a lot of women said, Screw that noise. 'Cause they had a taste of freedom, they had a taste of making their own money, a taste of spending their own money, making their own decisions. I think the beginning of the women's movement had its seeds right there in World War Two." |
"There is one front and one battle where everyone in the United States—every man, woman, and child—is in action, and will be privileged to remain in action throughout this war. That front is right here at home, in our daily lives, and in our daily tasks." |
This quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt shows the patriotic view that america took during this war. This is connects to the way that women were influenced by patriotism to work, like Helen Brown.
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Quotes found HERE
Multimedia gallery
This video is about one of the founding president of the American Rosie the Riveter Association and her husband. It goes over the home front during the wartime and goes over key factors that Helen's story goes over.