Growing up, I had strong female role models such as my grandmother and mother. My grandmother always said “Get an education so you can have a choice and an opportunity to change the world.” Throughout history, Asian women have endured the constraints of a patriarchal society. Yet, women warriors like Gabriela Silang, from the Philippines, the Trung sisters, from Vietnam, Hau Mu-Lan, from China, have courageously defended their families and countries with honor and pride.
Women have been part of the military since the beginning stages of our nation. Women served in the American Revolution as nurses, water bearers, cooks, laundresses and some disguised themselves as men to fight in battle. The United States offered citizenship to minority and immigrants men in return of their military services. Unlike, their male counterpart these women were not offered any type of benefits for their service yet continued to serve our nation.
After much debate,in 1941 bill PUBLIC LAW 77-554, was finally passed establishing the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) which main purpose was to release servicemen into combat by taking over their clerical jobs. The low induction of Caucasian female recruitants and the achievements of Japanese American men lead to the recruitment of Japanese American women.
Japanese American women that were contemplating in joining the WAAC faced problems with family opposition, discrimination and sexism. Some of the Internment Camps began campaigns to stop the young men and women from enrolling in the military.
Japanese American women living in Hawaii were recruited after October 1944. Some women joined because they wanted to travel to the “mainland” to seek adventure and job opportunities. The enlistment of these women was not one without controversy. Women labor was a crucial in Hawaii’s economy. For that reason the War Manpower Commission stated that only women not employed at their maximum’s skill could be eligible to sign up for the WAAC.
Approximately 300 Japanese American women from both Hawaii and the mainland served in the military during and shortly after World War II. All standards and requirements of age, citizenship, education, health and character were the same except the minimum height of 57 inches and weight minimum of 95 lbs. Japanese American women that showed aptitude or strong knowledge of the Japanese language were assigned to the Military Intelligence Service Language School. Others were assigned to Army Ground Forces, Army Service Forces and Army Air Forces in positions like weather observer, electrical specialist, nurse, among others duties.
These young Japanese American women had the valor to go against the traditional family structure and break the mold in a time where women did not have a voice. Their actions shaped and changed the role of Asian American women in the family unit. Along side Asian American men, these women paved the path for generations to follow.
nataliamaki
Sources: Serving our Country, Japanese American in the Military During WWII, National Archives and Records Administration, Rafu Shimpo and Audrey Magazine.