Tracey M. Wilson
Through the use of a political cartoon, the students will discover that many white males reacted with outrage at the employment of women and blacks. Men felt they were losing the power of their craft through the dilution of trade, and that women and blacks were infringing on their rights as workers because of the economic pressures of war-time production. The cartoon with accompanying questions follows.
(figure available in print form)
Greenwald, Maurine Wiooer,
Women, War, and Work.
Westport, Ct.: Greenwood Press, 1980, p. 122. Reprinted with permission.
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1. There are 3 people in the cartoon. Who do they each represent?
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2. Where is “War” taking the other two?
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3. What are 3 things “War” is disregarding (by stepping on them) in bringing women and blacks into the work force?
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4. For what reason did “War” bring women and blacks into the work force?
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5. Do you think the cartoonist believed women and blacks would be brought into the work force?
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6. How does the entrance of women and blacks hurt the position of the white male?
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7. According to the statistics, do you think that the women and blacks directly hurt the position of the white male in the work force? Why or why not? Are there any other contributing factors?