Women had a very important role in jobs during and after World War II. This helped change how society viewed women and their work.

During World War II:

• More Women Working: By 1943, about 6 million women in the UK had jobs in factories making weapons and other goods. This was double the number before the war.
• Famous Symbol: The character "Rosie the Riveter" became a symbol of women doing jobs that were usually done by men, especially in industries that supported the military.
• Military Service: Around 350,000 women joined the military. They served in groups like the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) and the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS).

After World War II:

• Jobs Continued: After the war, women kept about 1 in 3 jobs in the UK workforce. This was a huge increase from only 1 in 10 jobs in 1939.
• New Laws: Because more women were working, new laws were created, like the Equal Pay Act of 1970. This law aimed to make sure women got paid fairly and recognized their hard work.

These changes helped set the stage for more progress in gender equality at work.