Wacky Times: An Analysis of the WAC in World War II and its Effects on Women

At the dawn of the twentieth century American women were at the apex of a pointed fight for the vote. After gaining the vote they remained in a status that was anything but equal, or even reciprocal. Yet, the events of the twentieth century have altered the role of women of the world in considerable dimension. The events of World War II have often been pinpointed as a watershed - a precipitant event that separated women from social bondage and their contemporary role. The war has just as often been earmarked as a large-scale event that pushed women back in time several decades. This article assesses both interpretations and analyzes the role of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in the Second World War and how this group of women ultimately affected women's rights in the United States for years to come.