With reference to the period up to 1945, discuss the social impact of the Second World War on women and minorities.

Candidates will offer a considered and balanced review that includes a range of arguments to explain the effects of the Second World War on both women and minorities. Although candidates may vary in the emphasis they place on women and minorities, there should be at least some discussion of each. With respect to women, candidates may discuss the increase in employment opportunities, development of new skills and entrance into the armed forces that became available due to the war and which contributed to demands for equality. It may also be argued that discrimination in the workplace sometimes followed and that there was pressure to return to domestic roles at the end of the war. For minorities, candidates may discuss the discrimination faced by people of Japanese descent, but also the increased opportunities available to African–Americans and Latinos that helped fuel the post-war movement toward equality.