Poll: Drafting of women (3-10-44)

1

March 10
Drafting of women 

Interviewing Date 2/18-23/44
Survey #312-T
Question #1

The Army can either draft 200,000 single women aged 21-35 for the WACs for non-fighting jobs, or it can draft the same number of married men with families for the same work. Which plan would you favor?
Draft single women 75%
Draft married men 16%
No opinion 9%

By sex

Men Women
Draft single women 72% 78%
Draft married men 19% 13%
No opinion 9% 9%
2 Likes
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The Pittsburgh Press (March 10, 1944)

Poll: U.S. for draft of single women ahead of fathers

By George Gallup, Director, American Institute of Public Opinion

Maj. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey’s recent statement that Selective Service is “scraping the bottom of the manpower barrel” in its search for more than a million persons by July 1 once again throws into sharp focus the question of drafting single women for non-combat military service.

When the voters of the country are asked to choose between the alternatives of calling up more fathers or resorting to a draft of single women for non-fighting jobs, the vast majority would prefer to see women drafted first. This view is held by women as well as men.

Sentiment on the issue was measured throughout the country as follows:

The Army can either draft 200,000 single women aged 21-35 for the WACs for non-fighting jobs, or it can draft the same number of married men with families for the same work. Which plan would you favor?

Here is the vote today and a comparison with a similar survey in December 1943:

Today December 1943
Draft single women 75% 78%
Draft married men 16% 15%
No opinion 9% 7%

There is little evidence that women would oppose a draft of single women.

The following table shows the role of women as compared to that of the men:

Men Women
Draft single women 72% 78%
Draft married men 19% 13%
No opinion 9% 9%
2 Likes