Women in Defense (1941)

The film is narrated by Katherine Hepburn. It was made before the United States actually entered the war. Notice that the script is written by Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of FDR.

She starts out by saying that pioneer women helped in America's earlier history, and women of that day were helping in America's defense.

Women trained in science are working on new ways to meet the threat to the US.

The film is meant to show what women are doing, and what they can do, to help in the war effort.

“Every woman has an important place in the national defense program in science, in industry, and in the home.”

The film talks about how silk is needed for parachutes, and how substitutes are being made and tested in the laboratories.

Keeping the nation healthy is important, so scientists carry on experiments with that. This particular research is on vitamins.

Thousands of women are attending lectures on how to prepare food which is nutritious and economical.

“Women working in industrial plants need costumes which are safe and comfortable around machinery.”

“Women are being trained in the mechanical trades to meet the shortage of skilled labor.”

Women are recruited to help make planes for the nation's air force.

One parachute takes 65 yards of silk.

Women assemble precision parts for bombers.

Women working with men in inspection lines of munitions factories.

Then the film talks about women receiving training and the work of the Red Cross.

A blood bank.

18 Then there's a general closing about the home being the first line of defense, the contribution women are making to the defense effort, etc.

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