A new breed of Amazons: portrayals of army nurses in Europe during World War II.

Abstract

The enlistment of fifty thousand women into the Anny Nurse Corps was an incredible feat of propaganda. Propaganda efforts--both military and civilian--fostered images of women in uniform that usually ran toward glamorous, unrealistic, and ultimately unattainable. Yet society, and more important, women, accepted these images. These unrealistic images created and reinforced the impression that women joining the military would retain their inherent femininity since they would still be doing traditional women's occupations, assuaging some of the doubts about women entering into a traditionally male sphere--the military. The images of servicewomen ran the full gamut from salutary to derogatory, depending upon the source. Early war images reflect glamour, adventure, and patriotism. Those in charge of the dissemination of images of servicewomen presented women in a non-threatening manner, thus encouraging enlistment rather than piquing hostility toward the idea of women in uniform. Later in the war the images underwent a transformation. The civilian media toned down the romanticism and glamour of the early images, yet did not fully embrace women in the martial setting. The military's images underwent an even more complete transition. The nurses' rigorous training and effectiveness in the field effected a positive change in the portrayals of women in uniform. These positive portrayals found their way into commendations, after-action reports, and letters home, but not into mainstream civilian media. Thus they remained out of the public eye, and as a result the achievements of the nurses went largely unrecognized outside the military. Regardless, propaganda efforts helped to encourage women to step outside of their expected domestic sphere and enter the military war effort. Moreover, the processing, training, placement and utilization of ANC members illustrates the remarkable means by which these women overcame the initial perceived images and succeeded under conditions none ever expected to face.