.
THE RED CROSS
[Volunteers collect blood to be processed into dried plasma for shipment to war zones.]
American Red Cross
involvement in blood services dates back to World War II,
when blood plasma was shipped to Britain to aid stricken soldiers on the
battlefield.
"World War II Spawns 50 Years of American Red Cross Blood Services"
The following is an excerpt from this site, to read more go to..
"Accentuate
the Positive" and Ignore the Real: Representations of WWII [page
1]
by Jeri Kurtzleben
During World War II, the Office of War Information (OWI) promoted the nursing corps by producing newsreels. Each newsreel was a carefully orchestrated affair, entailing a great deal of editing and proofing to ensure purposes of recruitment (Doherty, 61). In the hope of attracting more women to the war effort, the OWI made sure that each newsreel used a series of appealing, "positive" representations of the nursing profession (Stevens, 47).
However, the OWI's campaign of "positive" representations ultimately failed. In trying to attract prospective nurses and also contain traditional femininity, several less positive images emerged from the OWI's orchestrated newsreels. The newsreels emphasized a "lack of dedication" towards the war effort by focusing on the leisure activities of the nurses, their attention to beauty, and their ineptness at adjusting to the hurried pace war demanded. These reoccurring themes contrasted drastically to the representations of men.
Men are almost always active in the newsreels. Male soldiers are engaged in battle, training or setting up equipment. There are almost no instances where nurses are working. During the "Allied Invasion of Salerno" the men are involved in "constant action and dog fighting" and the "terrifying spectacle and pandemonium of war."
Continued at "Accentuate the Positive"
A COMMEMORATION OF WORLD WAR II SERVICE
By Judith A. Bellafaire
Selling
Rosie the Riveter
How Advertisements in Ladies' Home Journal
Sold American Women Their Role During World War II
by: F. Marie Valgos
1943 (Saturday Evening Post: 29 May 1943, cover)
I was quite surprised in my researching and looking into the Military
Women of WWII. In fact I was also quite shocked at what I was reading regarding
the women during that time era.. The whole concept was to "sell" the image
of women then.. Solely for propaganda use, to either entice sales of War
Bonds, or for recruitment purposes.. Women where NOT portrayed realistically
then... Boy, as the saying goes..
"You've come a long way Baby!!"
I would like to list websites here having to do with the Women of WWII
..
Stories that relate from the women themselves that served during this time..
If you know of any or wish to send in your own story, please do..Any information
on this topic will greatly be appreciated. Please send to
VetCenter with Women of WWII
in the subject line.. I will continue to look in the meantime...
To ALL those women that served during this time, THANK
YOU!!!
You apparently where the "pioneers" and laid the ground work
for the many that now serve..