For many years men believed that women shouldn't participate in the same events as men or exercise the same rights as men. For example, during the 1800's-1900's men believed that women shouldn't have the right to vote, but it wasn't until 1919 that U.S. congress accepted women by passing the nineteenth amendment, allowing American women to vote. Furthermore, it wasn't until September 14, 1942 that the Brooklyn Navy Yard accepted women to work as mechanics. However, on August 18, 1940, women did work at the Navy Yard, but not as engineers or mechanics, but at sewing machines making flags for the naval ships ( according to Women Who Make Navy Flags Are in the Thick of Busy Days: At the Brooklyn Navy Yard 120 of Them Sew Banners And Homelike Articles for a Growing Fleet Flag Loft Scene At the Sewing Machines Supplies for Officers). You might think that it wasn't such a big deal that women worked as mechanics at the Navy Yard two years later, but oh it was. According to First Women Hired in Navy Shop, it was "the first time in its 141-year history" that women were qualified as eligible. As years passed by and WWII was taken place, the Navy Yard was reaching out to more and more women to take men's place at the Navy Yard while they were fighting. To contrast, when WWII ended women were no longer needed as much, but there were still women at the Navy Yard. Today, you can see women at the Navy Yard working as tour guides or at the BLDG 92. Lastly, hiring women for the "first time" influenced today's diverse groups of employees.
Before they were allowed to work, women had to go through check ups.
To see a video of the Brooklyn Navy Yard that includes an interview with a past female worker and the history of the Navy Yard
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