World War II saw many women break into male-dominated jobs, including riveters, crane operators, and cab drivers. Perhaps the most unusual breakthrough occurred when department stores began hiring women to play Santa, sitting on thrones previously occupied by men. Pretty soon, even more women in red Santa suits and matching hats could be seen ringing bells on street corners and ho-ho-ho-ing it up for charity. Some mothers were upset, saying that female Santas would be confusing to their little darlings. Nevertheless, with a shortage of men because of the war, many department stores were willing to take on the female Santas rather than disappoint the children. Newspapers, of course, took to the issue like bees to honey, with a columnist named Henry McLemore claiming it wasn’t right to have women playing the role of Santa. Pointing out a female Santa he ran into in a department store, McLemore said, “She didn’t walk like Santa Clause walks. He lumbered and flat-footed around, the result of years of carrying that massive pack on his back. This female Santa Claus minced around on size 3 shoes, and worst of all, she giggled. The real Santa Claus never giggled!” When the war ended, the brief era of female department store Santas had largely come to an end. The female Santas were a far cry from Kris Kringle, but then again, they no longer had to worry about how to handle a 7-year-old sitting on their lap pleading for a machine gun.
