World War II - A Women's Perspective

The Start of World War II

On the first of September in 1939, Nazi Germany invaded the Poland capital, Warsaw. This would be known as the attack that ignited World War II. Earlier in the year, around March 1939, British government formed an agreement that stated they would be allies to Poland in this very event. Meanwhile, France had already been in a prior alliance with Poland.  Not long after the British formed their treaty, Germany and Italy had formed an agreement to be allies.  On the second of September in 1939, Italy proposed a peace conference that would be held between Italy, Germany, Britain, France, and Poland. Unfortunately, the efforts made for peace were not successful. French Prime Minister, Édouard Daladier, spoke and conformed France involvement. The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Neville Chamberlain, stated that it would be impossible to discuss peace while Poland’s cities were under invasion. In this same statement, he confirmed that if German forces would not withdraw from Poland, their involvement would be certain. On the third of September in 1939, Britain made an announcement at 0900 that stated, if Germany does not announce withdraw from Polish territory by 1100, they will declare a state of war with Germany. Later that day, France allowed Germany until 1700 to withdraw their forces. After Germany did not respond to either of these deadlines and all peace attempts were made, Allies to Poland had no choice but to engage in war against Germany. These events would be precursors to many other countries, including the United States, involvement in World War II. 

The United States Institutes the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940

Initially, the United States was slow to join the war efforts. The President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, stated that his administration would make every effort possible to avoid war on the day of the initial attack. When British and French governments declared a state of war with Germany, Roosevelt once again announced that he hopes the United States stays out of the war. However, in the year following this announcement, the United States would be taking preparatory actions.  This not only included increased production on military weapons, aircraft, supplies, and such, but also an increase in soldiers.  On the sixth of September 1940, United States congress signed the Selective Training and Service Act. Soon after on the sixteenth of September 1940, President Roosevelt signed the act into law. This law required men between the ages of twenty-one and thirty-five years of age to register for the draft. In later years, more and more men would be required to register and serve. These men, who worked in factories and other homeland jobs, left their position to join the military force. This created an abundance of opportunities for women. This draft lead to five million women entering the workforce to fulfill jobs the men left unoccupied in the United States. This act strengthened our military, all while creating a sense of independence for women.

The Attack on Pearl Harbor

The United States had an official neutral position during the first two years of the war. However, in July of 1941, Roosevelt froze Japanese assets in the United States, ending relations between the two nations. Many histrions believe this was a move that initiated United States involvement. Soon after, in October of 1941, the Lend Lease Bill was passed. This gave the President the power to direct material aid without a break of neutrality. These supports went to the Allies. Roosevelt also previously placed the US Pacific Fleet into Pearl Harbor. These events were perceived as threats by Japan, which provoked an attack. On the seventh of December 1941, Pearl Harbor was bombed by Japan. This was the first attack on American land. This is forever known as the event that caused the United States to enter World War II. This caused another influx of men in the military. While the Selective Training and Service Act revising the ages of men that must register to include a wider range of ages was majorly responsible, it is not the only reason. This event caused an uproar of enlistees, reportedly, every recruitment record for the armed forces was broken. The men of the United States wanted to help protect their homeland, even if that meant risking their lives for their country. 

http://www.artnet.com/artists/dorothea-tanning/birthday-self-portrait-at-age-30-iJZr1EcWSWLfCsg-bMusaA2 

The reason I offer historical context for those three events is because it helps me to explain what Birthday was doing socially when Dorothea Tanning created it. She created this self-portrait piece in 1942, not long after the war had begun, and the United States had become officially involved. These events affected her because she was a citizen of the United States. Certain aspects of this painting can be interpreted as metaphoric messages and representations relating to the three events previously mentioned. She is turned away from the door behind her with an uncertain and saddened look on her face. Although she is uncertain, she is opening the first door and preparing to turn down the hallway. Her facial expression could represent the start of the war and the uncertainty that accompanied it. It looks as if she is taking a deep inhalation to prepare for what comes next. Much like the future, she has no idea what is awaiting behind the door. Her feet are bare because she is unprepared, as she does not know what to prepare herself for. Her whole life has been easy as a woman who does not work the tooling jobs that men do, so she has never needed adequate footwear before. The hallway is full of doors, which are symbolic for opportunities that were presented to women when jobs started to open because of the draft.  Before this influx of men joining the armed forces, women would stay at home and the men would work. The nakedness of her chest is representing women breaking free of these norms as they begun to take on what was normally a man’s job. She is also wearing a purple blouse, a rare color to see in nature, which is intact and looks almost brand new. This purple symbolizes that it was rare to see a woman in the workforce; it is a brand-new concept. The green on her skirt is starting to fray and looks worn out.  Unlike purple, green is very common in nature. This shows how women were stuck in these gender norms that are now falling apart. She intentionally chooses a flying lemur to show the audience the naturalness of the men going to war. Typically, in the lemur species, the male lemurs will fight to protect their land. The wings of this lemur are ready to take off, and it is about to protect the territory, very similar to men in the United States protecting their homeland after it was attacked by Japan in the event of Pearl harbor. Understanding the historical background of the events that influenced Dorothea Tanning’s Birthday, can help us better understand this piece and what is was trying to socially present.

A&E Television Networks. Germany Invades Poland. 2009

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/germany-invades-poland

Accessed 29 Mar. 2022

Anderson, Chris. Happy 80^th PL76. 2020

https://stephenambrosetours.com/happy-80th-pl-76-the-selective-service-act-of-1940/

Accessed 29 Mar. 2022

German Federal Archive. Aerial View of Warsaw, Poland. 2010

https://ww2db.com/image.php?image_id=11202

 Accessed 29 Mar. 2022

 United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. 2021

https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/world-war-ii-key-dates

Accessed 29 Mar. 2022

 Higgs Roger. How U.S Economic Warfare Provoked Japan’s Attack on Pearl Harbor. 2006

https://www.independent.org/news/article.asp?id=1930  

Accessed 29 Mar. 2022

 Warbirds. 3 Reasons Why Japan Attacked Pearl Harbor. 2015

https://pearlharborwarbirds.com/why-japan-attacked-pearl-harbor/

Accessed 29 Mar. 2022

Taylor Alan. World War II: Pearl Harbor. 2011

https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2011/07/world-war-ii-pearl-harbor/100117/

Accessed 29. March 2022