“The Democratic Family and World War II”

The role that women in the United States played during the Second World War is a topic that greatly interested Julia Pandolfi and influenced her desire to research and write about for her senior thesis paper. Julia graduated Summa Cum Laude in Spring 2024 with a bachelor's degree in History with minors in Spanish and Anthropology. 

Julia is very passionate about the topic of women's rights and has always been fascinated by the image of Rosie the Riveter, who was a symbol of women’s strength during the war times, but she wanted to investigate on a deeper level the true reality of what life was like for women during this time. Under the guidance of professor Dr. Laura Mayhall, who taught Julia’s Senior History Seminar class, she decided to write about the domestic homefront during World War 2 in order to highlight the vital role women were called to fulfill during this period. 

Julia found the incorporation of visuals, like political cartoons, posters, and advertisements, into her essay especially helpful for conveying to her readers the realities of the 1940s. 

During her research, Julia was surprised to learn just how many injustices were done to women during this period. Women during this time were called by their government to participate in wartime efforts but there were still many limitations placed on them due to their gender.  

Julia hopes that people, especially young women, can read her essay and learn and recognize what the women of the past in the United States did for us that allowed us to be in the position we are in today. 

Julia is currently earning her master's in Art of Teaching degree (MAT) in secondary education Social Studies from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. Julia works as a Social Studies intern at Dodd Middle School in Cheser, Connecticut and she will graduate in December 2025 with the hope of becoming a middle school Social Studies teacher. 

Read Julia's piece, "The Democratic Family and WWII", in the upcoming issue of Inventio Volume 10!