Some new recruits found themselves doing jobs more complex than boring office work filling roles such as librarians fingerprint experts torpedo assemblers and switchboard operators UNIFORMS At first women did not have appropriate uniforms to wear Men's uniforms would not work for women Daniels the secretary of the Navy remembered decisions about women's uniforms were difficult He said Some people thought they ought to wear something like pants Some had different ideas The length of the skirt that was a serious problem Should we have a long skirt that would sweep the decks Or something that revealed more leg Never in my life have I attempted anything great or small without the wise counsel of the women We decided on skirts about eight inches from the ground There were also summer and winter weight hats boots leather gloves and blouses It didn't take long for the navy to realize the popularity of women in military dress patriotism increased wherever they went During the summer of 1917 the navy sent uniformed women to make appearances at recruiting campaigns parades and other official events 10
Women filled important clerical positions left vacant as men went to join the fighting The inclusion of women in the military in 1917 was a turning point for women's rights It was a significant occurrence for women and the war In fact it would have been impossible for the war to be won without women holding up the structure of the military behind the
WHAT TO WEAR Uniforms for enlisted women were a cost An average serviceable yeоwoman's continued source of debate One newspaper suit Norfolk jacket and skirt costs 35 reported on the new recruits wardrobes today The winter outer garment which has been specified as the full length naval Pity the navy's poor yeоgirls They have to have two wardrobes in these cape lined throughout is modestly priced days of the high cost of clothes One at 45 Awardrobe is a thing of strictly tailored The whole uniform suit plus cape garments made according to Navy would cost approximately 1 500 today Part specifications and varying not so much of the expense would have been covered as hair's breadth Government uniforms by their allowance but it would still have and their accompaniments have to be of cost more than a month's salary to purchase good materials One cannot scrimp in the a uniform amount of material used or save on its In the early 1900s a woman's role in society was considered secondary to a man's This changed as women joined the war effort Their contributions during World War I gained women more independence By the end of the decade their undeniable impact had helped support arguments for more women s rights including
The yeoman F uniform included a navy jacket with gold buttons an A line skirt and a flat brimmed felt
