Rita Hayworth an American actress and pin-up who was the era's leading sex symbol. She was known as "The Love Goddess", and was celebrated as an expert dancer and a great beauty.All though not on the frontline women readily took up important jobs vacated by the men back home. In addition to maintaining vital communications from operating telephone networks, women were found in strength in key civil defence operations, fire-fighting and medical services. They were also to provide organised help where none had previously existed.
In industry the production of tanks, planes, and other crucial war machines were produced. 'Land Army girls' went to work on the farms producing much needed food to feed the country.
The National Service Act made the conscription of women legal. Only single women between 20 and 30 years old were called up initially, but by the middle of 1943 nearly 90% of single women and 80% of married women were employed in essential war work.
Women soon made up a third of the total workforce in metal and chemical industries, in ship building and vehicle manufacture. They worked on railways, canals, buses...and built London's Waterloo Bridge.
Women began to wear trousers, which were much more practical for the sort of work they were now doing.
Back home women were encouraged to keep their femininity and look glamorous - it boosted morale for both men and women!
Although many women were expected to return to the home again once the Second World War was over, the nature of women's employment had changed forever.
