The role of woman in war times increased during WWI and WWII. When all of the men left for the war, it granted the women with an opportunity to create careers instead of staying home and being housewives. They also were used as nurses in the war, which was a first. This was a large step for women's rights because they were finally able to prove themselves in the workplace when the opportunity presented itself. 

However, after the wars there was a large drop off in women in the workplace because the men came back, there were baby booms, and then the women were forced to stay at home and lose the progress they had made during the absence of men. Only after WWII did their rights stick.