What were the effects of World War II on American women and minority groups in the United States, and were they positive or negative?

The effects of a war are numerous and often particular to individuals. So, in the space provided here, we can only talk about ways in which people were generally impacted.

For women, particularly white women, the major impact was that, due to the absence of men and the necessity of manufactured goods, they were called upon to be employed in factories, particularly munitions factories. This allowed many of them to earn their own incomes for...

The effects of a war are numerous and often particular to individuals. So, in the space provided here, we can only talk about ways in which people were generally impacted.

For women, particularly white women, the major impact was that, due to the absence of men and the necessity of manufactured goods, they were called upon to be employed in factories, particularly munitions factories. This allowed many of them to earn their own incomes for the first time and to understand what it felt like to work outside of the home. Further, this allowed them to socialize with other women in a context that was not domestic. 

While men were abroad, the culture shifted toward women. Women had become the primary consumers, which was still important, even in a time of rationing. This consumption was especially important at the movies. Many of the films made during the war were "women's films," sentimental stories in which women and their experiences were the subjects. These films became less popular after soldiers returned home.

For minority groups, particularly African Americans, the war offered expansions in economic opportunity (black women were also employed at factories) and in their ability to show their patriotism once again. Despite discrimination in the armed forces, many black people sought to enlist and, for the first time, African Americans became eligible for officer training. After the Second World War, in 1948, President Truman signed an executive order officially ending military segregation.

The positive effects of the war were the further inclusion of black people in the military and the participation of women in the war effort. The negative effects were that, due to inequalities at home, black people did not benefit as much as whites from the G.I. Bill and experienced discrimination and harassment as soon as they returned home. Also, women were expected to return to the domestic sphere and stay there.

The postwar 1950s are regarded as a prosperous era, mainly due to the mass consumerism of the period. However, it might be helpful to think about who prospered and how groups of people who were not white males fared in the postwar period.