Women, Patriotism, and Fear: An Analysis of World War II Venereal Disease Posters

This thesis presents a study examining how women, patriotism, and fear were depicted in venereal disease posters produced by the United States War Department between the years of 1942-1944. The study analyzes the situations depicted in the posters, what message the War Department wanted to convey when choosing gendered imagery to promote a version of reality, and what implications these depictions have for views of women’s sexuality and the moral conduct of patriotism. Employing a methodological framework that ties together visual culture and historical inquiry with sociological analysis, this study examines 139 World War II venereal disease posters to unravel the narratives surrounding women’s sexuality, patriotism, fear, and public health strategies during this period. This project highlights how the United States government used contradictory images of women as carriers of disease and as virtuous homemakers within the contexts of patriotism and fear to implore male soldiers to embrace public health measures that would keep healthy enough to fight in the war.

Author

• Macchia, Taylor

Language

• English

Date created

• 2024

Type of Work

• Master's Thesis

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Sociology

Degree

• M.A.

Advisor

• Ken, Ivy

Committee Member(s)

• Brantley, Jill

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/6t053g86j