Before World War II began in 1939, America and much of the world was in the midst of an economic depression.  Once war efforts began, young men from around the country enlisted, thus creating openings for various types of factory jobs.  These vacancies, combined with an all time high of unemployment rates, set the stage for a large quantity of women to join the labor force.  Manufacturing companies that were major producers of consumer goods refocused their efforts to aid Allied Powers during the war.  As battle in the European and Pacific theaters intensified, radio producers, electric com