Protecting the Home Front: Women in Civil Defense

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Florida International University is hosting lecture exploring women’s roles with the Federal Civil Defense Administration in the 1950s. So-called traditional roles for women in the 1950s as housewives and mothers have been well documented. Yet millions of women took advantage of the opportunity to expand their roles by either being employed by or volunteering for civil defense agencies and organizations. The Federal Civil Defense Administration set its goal as having women constitute up to 70 percent of the national civil program, and women responded. Women held management and operational positions, and served as block wardens, auxiliary police officers, nurses, and many other positions. These women have been largely overlooked by historians, which makes it important to examine their essential participation in the nation’s defense during this critical time in our history.

Registration is required, and the program can be seen in-person or virtually. To register, call: 305-919-5900. This program is funded in part through a Florida Humanities Greater Good: Humanities in Academia Grant in partnership with Florida International University.