Supporting the War Effort: At Work
The size and scope of World War II increased the demand for manufacturing. This required more workers and greater productivity.
In many countries, women were encouraged to take on jobs that had previously been closed to them. Typically viewed as temporary replacements for men serving in the military, women often faced obstacles, such as sexual harassment. Still, they became skilled and vital workers.
By 1943, women in the United States made up 65 percent of all employees of the aircraft industry, compared to just 1 percent before the war. Despite continuing discrimination, African Americans and Latinos in the United States also found new opportunities.
Left: Women are encouraged to work in order to “free a man to fight.”
Right: An African American veteran continues to support the war effort, even after he was wounded.
Watch This!
All workers were urged to work harder, faster, and better. Taking time off, even for a sick day, or working too slowly were considered obstacles to military success.
Conquer by the Clock was made in 1943 by the U.S. government.
As you watch an excerpt from the film, notice how the images, music, and narration help convey the message. After watching, answer the questions in the Take Notes section below.
| Keyboard Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Space | Pause/Play video playback |
| Enter | Pause/Play video playback |
| m | Mute/Unmute video volume |
| Up and Down arrows | Increase and decrease volume by 10% |
| Right and Left arrows | Seek forward or backward by 5 seconds |
| 0-9 | Fast seek to x% of the video. |
| f | Enter or exit fullscreen. (Note: To exit fullscreen in flash press the Esc key. |
| c | Press c to toggle captions on or off |
Take Notes
- Why do you think the film uses the metaphor of one day (24 hours) rather than a conventional workday (8 hours)?
- The excerpt shows rifles being produced in order to equip a battalion of soldiers who one day “might win a war—or lose it.” What is the implication of this last line?
