Throughout the 20th century, World Wars I and II had a significant impact on American society in several ways. From 1917 to 1918, the United States' involvement in World War I led to an increase in the number of women in the workforce that would continue steadily through much of the 20th century. The United States once again played a major role in World War II from 1941 to 1945, and this war is actually considered a turning point for women in the workforce. During both world wars, women workers were affected by discrimination, the danger of the work they did, and the depiction of women in propaganda during both world wars. Yet the different periods of the two world wars led to differences in how women were impacted in the workplace. Although there are several similarities and differences in the impact of World War I and World War II on women in the workplace throughout the 20th century, both world wars played a role in challenging of the accepted role of women in society. In order to understand how the World Wars caused such a significant change in the way women were viewed in the workplace, we must first understand their experience in the workplace even before the wars began. Contrary to popular belief, women did play a role in the workforce before the First World War. In the early 1900s, the number of women in the workforce increased significantly. During this period, it is estimated that approximately one in five workers was female. This statistic is mainly due to industrialization, a period of significant economic expansion that took place between the 1870s and 1900s due to the process of mechanization. Mechanization is the use of machines to accomplish tasks formerly done by hand. Following the two guys...... middle of paper ......'s History 13.2(2001): 154-57. Academic research completed. Internet. March 22, 2014.Marcellus, Jane. “These working women: representation of the “two-job” woman between the two world wars. American Journalism 23.3 (2006): 53-78. Academic research completed.Web. March 22, 2014.Musto, RJ “Struggle, conflicts and sacrifices on the home front”. History Magazine August-September 2009: 12-15. Academic research completed. Internet. March 22, 2014. United States National Park Service. “Rosie the Riveter: Women Working in World War II.” National Park Service. US Department of the Interior, nd Web. March 22, 2014. “Women at war”. BBC News. BBC and Web. March 22, 2014.Yesil, Bilge. "'Who said it was a man's war?' : Propaganda, advertising discourse and the representation of women war workers during the Second World War." MediaHistory 10.2 (2004): 103-17. Academic research completed. Internet. March 22. 2014.