It’s a riveting story. Seriously it is. You’ve likely seen this woman in posters but do you know her significance? What she represented, back in World War II and now? Today’s female spotlight is on Rosie the Riveter.
Rosie as a Symbol of Labor
Rosie is shown rolling up her sleeves and saying “We Can Do It!” in World War II posters. But this isn’t where she began, explains the U.S. Department of Labor. The song “Rosie the Riveter” was blaring across radio waves during the war as artist J. Howard Miller, who was commissioned by Westinghouse, created the iconic woman with the polka dot scarf on her head who flexed her bicep.
But this image crafted in 1942 was not intended by Miller to be “Rosie” and many Americans did not consider her to be Rosie either. This poster Miller was employed to create was meant to improve worker morale. The attribution of the name Rosie to it came later.
The popular Rosie name that we know today actually came from famed painter and illustrator Norman Rockwell. He created an image of a muscle-clad woman in overalls, goggles, and honorable pins on her shirt for the cover of the 1943 Saturday Evening Post’s Memorial Day issue. This woman was eating a sandwich and had a lunch pail at her side with the name “Rosie” on it. Her feet are on a copy of Hitler’s “Mein Kampf.” This cover would become a huge symbol of American go-for-it spirit and showed that not only men were working in the manufacturing industry.
This Rockwell cover proved such a success that newspapers across the U.S. began publishing stories of real-life “Rosies” who were leaving their homes to enter the workforce. The government even began a recruitment campaign for female workers and titled it “Rosie the Riveter.” Some historians contend that this was the American government’s most successful ad campaign to date.
Over the years, Rockwell’s Rosie image was replaced by Miller’s original Rosie and today it is the one that is most popular. The “We Can Do It!” blue bubble in the poster continues to encourage women in spirit all these years later. The image is on everything from t-shirts to coffee mugs.
Women in the Workforce during World War II
With so many American men enlisting in WWII, more and more women began to join the workforce. These numbers had not been seen before. The percentage of working women in the U.S. jumped from 27% to close to 37% between 1940 and 1945. They were encouraged by the government’s recruiting campaign featuring Rosie the Riveter.
Women contributed in many industries, but the biggest increase in jobs held by females was noted in the aviation industry. By 1943, women held more than half of the total jobs (65%) in aviation. Unfortunately, although women were essential in the working wartime efforts, they earned only half of their male counterparts, if they even earned that much.
In the armed forces, about 350,000 women worked on the home front and overseas during World War II. By 1942, the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps was created, which would later become the Women’s Army Corps. Those in this group became known as WACs. There were also female officers and navy reservists who were part of WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services).
And don’t forget about the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs). They were the first ladies to fly American military planes. They had to have their pilot’s license before being eligible to serve, and these pilots were responsible for transporting cargo, participating in simulations, and transferring planes to bases from factories. Over 1,000 WASPs contributed to WWII in total, and 38 of them died in their efforts. Many years later, in 1977, WASPs received complete military status.
Who Did Miller Model his ‘Rosie’ After?
Artist Miller created his image of Rosie in 1942 based on a real woman rather than solely his imagination. She was 17-year-old Geraldine Hoff Doyle. She was photographed on the job as a metal presser in Michigan’s defense factory by an unidentified wire journalist. Miller took this photo and made it into the Westinghouse “We Can Do It!” poster that would go on to become what many consider today to be the iconic Rosie the Riveter.
As for the woman on Rockwell’s cover on The Saturday Evening Post, this was Mary Doyle Keefe. Ironically, Keefe had no experience as a riveter. A telephone operator instead, she was a neighbor of Rockwell, and he asked to model for the painting.
Female Empowerment and Rosie the Riveter Today
Rosie the Riveter’s spirit lives on today. She is symbolic of stepping outside of the image of frailty that is often associated with women and instead shows a fighting spirit. She is inspirational and reminds us to be courageous!
As this post has indicated, Rosie the Riveter was not intended to be the feminist icon that it has grown to be today. Over the years, she has grown to be a cultural icon. The Feminist Movement took on the “We Can Do It!” message in the 1980s. She represents strength and power.
She may have begun as a nameless woman on a poster only associated with the workplace but Rosie the Riveter is far more than that today. She stands for women’s rights, even though that was not the original intention in the World War II poster. It makes sense though, considering she looks brave and inspires those who champion female rights.
I’ve always loved the image of Rosie and what she came to stand for. A true badass!
I love this post, Christy. So many attribute the beginning of women’s rights with the bra-burnning sixties, but it began so much earlier.
I enjoyed this post Christy. Thanks for the great story.
Yes:) true! Honest people are not accepted, because people are used to lies, but who cares. Just Live!! Keep your own Standard High! Let Others Be what they choose to be!
I take it as a Yes!thank you Ben. Lovely weekend to you too extra oridinaré:)
Brilliant post!!
Cheater Ben! LOL
Fascinating post Christy. That Rosie photo is certainly iconic. Loved the tribute to empowering women and the history of Rosie the Riveter! :) xx
Thanks for expanding what I know about Rosie. She’s quite a woman.
Brilliant article… really enjoyed it. Good ole Rosie!
I have always had a massive problem with any society who wastes half its talent by denying equal opportunities because they only see the sex of a person and not their capabilities.
One of my closest work friends took a degree in engineering and met a lot of resistance both in university and the job market (this is going back some 30 odd years).
No one ever gave her credit for
A: having one of the sharpest minds of any one I have ever known
and
B: having the balls to take all that crap from ignorant men including her tutors and still emerge as the top of her class, head and shoulders above the others in a traditionally male industry.
She couldn’t get a job and ended up a systems analyst… one of the best I knew
Thank God today’s world continues to change… at least in some parts!
Fascinating!!! Very Fascinating!! I too didn’t know it’s has legendary history to it, the woman being actual person, wow! Thank you christy:) keep writing woman
that poster that you see here was based on a lady that worked in a rubber factory in Akron Ohio during WWII and became a icon used by the government. to promote the women work in the war effort.the city of Akron Ohio used the poster for the tunnel boring machine for a city project
I knew who Rosie the Riveter was way back when I was small (a long, long time ago) – she gave me a sense of empowerment at a time when women weren’t!
A fascinating post, Christy and I’m so glad GP Cox encouraged you to write about Rosie the Rivetter! 😀 The figures of women in aviation during the war is staggering – it must have been so hard for many of them to leave the jobs afterwards – even if they were so under-payed! BTW on seeing the first photo I thought I’d ended up on Bernadette’s blog!
Hi Christy,
I really did not know she was a real person. You are great teacher Christy :)
Thank you
Hi Ben,
I love the way you put your thoughts across, so much power, positivity! But I have a complain… Why is that nobody can comment below your post? Keep writing, keep posting! God bless!!
Such a cheater BEN!! LOL, all the best friend! Keep writing :)
Hello Jayshree,
thank you so much for your comment. Yes, I know about that problem. You can not comment here in WP reader, because I have self hosted blog. You must open my blog and then commenting . I will , thank you so much for your support. It means a lot to me :)
Ohh! I shall do that:)
Thank you for replying :)
I can go on talking and talking..with an extra ordinary mind. End the convo with a warm hug and smile:) Until we talk next keep enjoying simple joys of life.. The rain, wind, long walks on the beach, sunset, bicycle ride, chai and chat with old friend, joke with oldies, carziness with kids.. Creating memmories to look back and relish with you-ness! Take care Ben:)
Yea,it is nice to talk with you Jay.I really enjoy in every single moment,with my whole body and soul. Life is now,not tomorrow ,not later. I wish you great week. Thank you
Yes! All is NOW!! And NOW IS WISH to write my next post on you and your blogs.. I must take your permission, your writing should maximum, I would wanna do my bit to spread it.
Hi Jay, you wanna write about me and my blog ? You have my permission. Thank you so much
Yessss about you and your writing
That is so nice from you. I am happy if you can find an inspiration in my articles
Absolutely! I sent your site link to family and friends:) I wish to write like you, hopefully someday!!!BTW any tip offs about you, like the secret ones…lol.. shhh you would want me to add on my blog on you.. You can mail me.. Hehehe
Thank you so much. You flatter me, I am not on such a high writing level :) well, I will email you some facts,but I think I have already publish them on my blog. Talk to you soon Jay. Thank you
Ohhhh noooo flattery! Plz don’t say that:( it’s my bit to spread positivity. Bye for now
That’s me ya:( I say what I like. Appreciate what I like. Thats all
And writing isn’t about level, it’s about connect, and why should beauty remain in corner when it can be brought forth. People don’t have time to search for beauty,lol, fact it is. But beauty certainly does catch attention. Anyway…I DON’T LIKE FLATTERY yaaaa:(
Remember
WE CAN DO IT!!!
And that’s what I’m trying to do Ben my friend. I hope now your convinced enough why I wanna write on you and your blogs:)
Indeed Jay. You are very honest and kind and thank you for that. Hoest people are rare in this material world
Most interesting and inspirational post! It is disappointing, though, that woman earned only half of the male salary. The situation is much better today.
Typo: women!
Thank you for the history behind this iconic poster with us, Christy!
Pretty cool to find out Rosie’s story. It’s too bad she was conceived and painted by and named by men. That’s how it goes: even in a campaign to recruit women, no one thought to hire a woman.
Great post. It’s unsettling that these women were paid so little compared to men and after the war were expected to give up their jobs and go back to being housewives. Thank goodness times have changed and women continue to advance towards equality.
Pos-i-lutely fabulous, Christy! It’s a story that I always found inspiring. Hugs to you and to GP.
Wow, a fascinating post. ‘Rosie,’ I salute you. xxxxx
When I saw the subject I knew I had to come here and read it.
I LOVE THIS POST!!!!!
<3 <3 <3
This is truly a When Women Inspire post of note.
YAY for G.P. Cox! You go guy!
Love a good history lesson!
This is a great post! I appreciate all the links to explore the ideas further. Thank you :-)
An inspirational post and a great tribute to the women who played such an important part during that terrible war and continue to play in various roles in peacetime..
That poster never fails to encourage and inspire me! Awesome article
Good evening 🐞
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Rosie the Riverter. So inspiring. It is true that women, like men, or “than men” can change their destiny and the future of their nation.
Bravo to Rosie for setting the tune and to todays women for dancing to that tune.
Thank you for sharing this post !