© 2006 Christina Buldini

Mr. Warner gives some one on one instruction in
this Archery Class

As the Armory grew in size, more local businesses opened churches expanded and social clubs emerged. Yet, during the war years, rationing forced citizens of Springfield to adjust their leisure activities to the war effort’s needs. Posters encouraged women  to work defense industries, by stating, “The more women at work, the sooner we win!” and, “We helped them build our nation, we’ll help them defend it – Produce for Victory!” “As women joined the workforce and earned pay they participated more in activities outside of work, but went home after work and carried on with daily chores such as laundry, dishes, shopping and cooking dinner.” 1

Archery Class on Armory Grounds Conducted by
Mr. and Mrs. Warner - Former General Foreman
at Watershops

The local YMCA, located just a few blocks from the Armory, became an important location for people to congregate. The YMCA and YWCA offered children and club members to participate in athletics and activities of their interest. Athletics became one of the major controversial topics during World War II because women enjoyed sports and participated in different sporting events. Starting in the 1930’s women athletes were kept under microscopic view so people would not mistake them for being too manly. During World War II women’s professional baseball started and rose in popularity under the title, ‘All American Girls Baseball League and specified always appear in feminine attire... MASCULINE HAIR STYLING? SHOES? COATS? SHIRTS? SOCKS, T-SHIRTS ARE BARRED AT ALL TIMES.”2 Fear motivated critiques behind women’s participation in sports. The idea that women participating in sports gave them ‘mannish’ appearances and made them stray from traditional gender roles contributed to the lesbian as empowered athlete stereotype. Such generalizations openly promoted homophobic discrimination and stereotypes. “Society blamed ‘lesbianism’ on masculine tendencies and freedoms encouraged by the war.”3This problem carried on from the war and post war era for several generations and still today is visible; this is a stigma that stems from the ignorance displayed by propaganda from the Second World War.