World War II mobilization affected women by

When most of the able-bodied men went to war, women had to take over jobs in manufacturing and agriculture to keep the country running and to support the war effort. Most of these women were stay-at-home wives or had been working in 1930-40s traditional "women's" jobs (secretary, teacher, etc.). Taking over the many different jobs left by the men must have seemed daunting to those women, as well as having to leave their small children in some kind of childcare. In addition, people in the Allied countries had to deal with shortages and rationing of fuel, food, fabric, and other items needed for the war effort.