...During World War II, 358,074 women served in the U.S. Military. Rosie the Riveter is portrayed as a female defense worker with a riveter, a machine utilized to construct airplanes, and an American flag in the background displaying patriotism and a sense of duty. Despite Rosie the Riveter's masculine look, she has a compact and a handkerchief tucked into her pocket, showing her femininity. Norman Rockwell created this highly influential propaganda piece at the peak of World War II encouraging the women of America to help the war effort by showing them what American women are capable of doing. Numerous men headed off to war leaving jobs vacant for women to occupy. According to Stephen Ambrose, the women of America “became proficient cooks and...
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...high. This image has been widely associated with “Rosie the Riveter,” a fictional persona that represented (and encouraged) American women who joined the war effort by temporarily entering the paid workforce. Accordingly, it’s become a feminist icon, a symbol of women’s empowerment and solidarity. The poster is so recognizable today that it’s often parodied or appropriated for everything from campaigns to improve women’s lives to marketing for cleaning products. You can even buy a “Rosie the Riveter” action figure, complete with “We Can Do It!” emblazoned on the packaging. One retailer, giftapolis.com, enthuses, “Rosie the Riveter is no ordinary gal! Her image was used to promote the Women Ordinance Workers (WOWs) during World War II. Her confident declaration… inspired millions of women to drop their brooms and pick up rivet guns and wrenches.” However, in their 2006 Rhetoric & Public Affairs article, “Visual Rhetoric Representing Rosie the Riveter: Myth and Misconception in J. Howard Miller’s ‘We Can Do It!’ Poster,” communications scholars James Kimble and Lester Olson argue that the image was never used in any such way. The idea that the poster was an inspirational call to other women is the result of reading history through the lens of our current assumptions about gender and politics. In fact, the real story of the poster is about labor relations, not gender. First, though we often think of the “Rosie the Riveter” poster as the product of a government enthusiastic...
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...I understood who she was and her slogan “We Can Do It” which empowered woman, but I never knew the background of it. Of course, me being a woman, this enticed me and through this video, I had a desire to learn more in depth about the life of Rosie the Riveter. As for the role of Latinos in World War 2, I was caught by surprise over how many Latinos would give their life to serve for a country that treated Latinos as the lowest of the low. Although, I later understood that fighting in the war paid really well and most Latinos were in need of the money. The life of Macario Garcia was a perfect example. After receiving the Congressional Medal of Honor for his exceptional efforts in the war and being seen as a hero by the own president of the United States, he was refused service at a small café in Richmond, Texas. The idea that someone refused service to a man who shed blood, tears, and sweat so that the owners of that restaurant could live freely in the United States is ridiculous. However...
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...THESIS Rosie the Riveter took a stand by proving to society that women were capable of completing the jobs of men. Although she wasn’t an actual person, she still did have a big part on giving more freedom and independence to many women across the nation and still does inspire many people every day. DISCRIMINATION Women were expected to stay home and do house work and raise children during WWll and even before that, and in some cases, even today. Men’s expectations from society were a little different, they were expected to go to the work to provide for their families. Before women were encouraged to work,...
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...The U.S. government came up with the “Rosie the Riveter” campaign to inspire women to replace men in the workforce. Rosie the Riveter was a cultural icon of the United States. She was a strong fictional character who symbolized the female industrial worker of World War II. The campaign became one of the most successful recruitment tools in American history, as a great number of women were assured of their patriotic duty and quickly responded by entering the workforce Women held jobs in munitions and did an extremely hazardous work. The munitions industry heavily recruited female workers. According to Susan Brownell Anthony, “Women form[ed] almost half of all the workers trimming bullet jackets, annealing case parts and assembling bullets and cartridges. In big ammunition-artillery women form[ed] more than a third of the workers...
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...Rosie the Riveter, a painting by Norman Rockwell, is on display at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. In this painting that was created in 1943, there is no text, only an image and it still communicates a strong message about its time. Although, this image-based design was used as a magazine cover for Post. This strong message is one of the reasons why many people are familiar with Rosie the Riveter and it is still popular today. Rockwell chose Mary Dole (now Mary Keefe), a nineteen year old telephone operator, as the model for Rosie. She met Mary Rockwell, Norman Rockwell’s wife, while paying her telephone bill. Later on, Rockwell called and asked if she “wouldn’t mind posing for a painting” (Knight 2013). She sat for several photographs and the end result is what is seen today. In the painting, Rosie is seen sitting wearing a blue shirt with overalls and penny loafers with red socks. She is also seen holding a sandwich and has a white handkerchief in her...
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...viewer’s eye along with Rosie who stands out with her tones the colors and text that makes the image pop. It’s a well put together image that did serve as a WWII propaganda, but it also can be considered as a work of art. Additionally this artist and his art work leads into another artist that was also know for the same type of WWII propaganda. Normal Rockwell was another well-known artist that was known for his paintings and illustrations. As an artist Rockwell received his first commission at the age of 17 when he was considered to be very talented at a young age (Biography.com). As an illustrator in 1961 he created the first of 321 cover for the Saturday Evening Post. His images were classic Americana that were love by the public. He also...
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...CHARLESTON, W.Va. — If she had complied with the law, Anna Hess would likely not have worked for Mohawk Industries during World War II. "I told a little white lie," she said. "I went to work when I was 15 years old." Telling factory officials she was 18, Hess began building tire bands for trucks that would be used overseas by Allied troops. Now 89, Hess was among 25 World War II female workers who were recognized Thursday in Charleston for their roles in manufacturing equipment for the American military and its allies. The female workers were referred to as "Rosie the Riveters," named after a government campaign to encourage women to take a manufacturing job, Hess said she grew up in "back in the head of one of the hollers" in Roane County. She still...
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...The ad is representing a woman who worked in factories and shipyards during WWII. These women sometimes took entirely new jobs replacing the male workers who joined the military. I chose this ad because it’s a role model for all young working women who followed female contributors to WWII and it inspires women to be a part of something bigger. If you were a Rosie Riveter, you were one of the 2.5 million women who joined the workforce in the early 40’s to fill industrial defense jobs for men who were fighting over seas. Rosie’s produced 296,429 airplanes, 102,351 tanks and guns, 87,620 warships, 47 tons of artillery ammunition and 44 billion rounds of ammunition according to the Galle Encyclopedia of U.S. History. I concluded that the ethos strategy dominates this ad while also rhetorically persuading the audience with the logos strategy. The domination of the ethos strategy presents itself when displaying a woman. It displays credibility for women who are interested in serving for our country and for those who already have. It persuades observers by challenging reliability in terms of strength. This is shown as Rosie flex’s her muscles. The ad logos strategy is also uses to persuade the audience threw historic analogies. The image captures the American flag, a woman in uniform and captions “We Can Do It” illustrating...
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...Final Paper Prep: History of American Women in World War II Marilyn Thorsted HIS 204 American History Since 1865 (BUH1028C) Instructor: Dana Logan July 26, 2010 Topic The topic that I chose to write on is the History of American Women during World War II. What I would like to focus on is how these women lived and what impact they had on the American society at home or on the battlefront. Thesis: Women in World War II played an important role in defending our country at home and away. They were helpful when it came to filling the much needed jobs that were left behind by the men, and they provided much support on the battlefield as many of them recruited in the arm forces. Sources: Carter, R (2005). Blacks in America’s military: A legacy of war time heroism. New York Amsterdam News, 96 (24), 10-166 Retrieved July 26, 2007 from Academic Search Premier Database This source reports on contributions made by African Americans as they served in military and how valiantly throughout history. Many of these women sacrifice their way of live to protect the life and freedoms of the nation. Eisenmann, L. (2002). Educating the Female Citizen in a Post-war World: competing ideologies for American women, 1945–1965. Educational Review, 54(2), 133- 141. doi:10.1080/00131910220133220. Retrieved July 20, 2010, from Academic Search Premier Database This source gives information about Women in the post-World War II that found themselves caught between patriotisms...
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...the home they lived in. Men went to work outside of the home, on occasion a women did, but it was not very frequent. African Americans and Hispanics typically were housemaids. They were expected to stay home and take care of the household. White women did have better jobs, but not many options were out there that they were allowed to perform. Typically they had worked in a clerical, retail or nursing job. It became apparent when the war began that utilizing women were essential due to many men leaving to fight for our country. The job market opened, and women found employment as electricians, welders, and riveters in defense plants. The employment opportunities that were few and far between became every day for the American woman. Females became a crucial part of the war efforts; they became the new professional. In the introduction of her book, “Creating Rosie the Riveter Class, Gender, and Propaganda During World War II,” Maureen Honey explains, “Women were hired to fill positions that were generally occupied by men. The...
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...1) Describe the post-WWII frustrations felt by women such as Betty Friedan. 2) During the era of “Rosie the Riveter”, what gains did women make in the workforce? How did these women feel about themselves and their contributions? What did society as a whole think? 3) What role did mass media play during the 1950s and 1960s in regard to supporting or undermining the “feminine mystique”? 4) Which television heroine -- Alice, Lucy, or Miss Brooks -- came the closest to TRULY overcoming the feminine mystique, and elaborate on that heroine’s situation and relationship to the men in her life. 1)Describe the post-WWII frustrations felt by women such as Betty Friedan Betty Friedan and other women were frustrated about their roles as women in society and in the household. Many women weren’t pleased being the typical housewife, they wanted to be someone and have their own identity. When women started working during WWII they found the heroine they wanted for themselves. After the war, most women stopped working and went back to being housewives. Betty Friedan was frustrated at this and didn’t comprehend why women stopped working. 2) During the era of “Rosie the Riveter”, what gains did women make in the workforce? How did these women feel about themselves and their contributions? What did society as a whole think? While most of the men were out in the field battling war, women were the only ones left to the do the work the men had left without employment. Advertising at one...
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...FIFINELLA How the women’s Auxiliary service pilots helped shape American Warfare “From time immemorial, girls have been brought up to believe that they are inherently incapable, axiomatically inferior to boys. Both men and women accepted this belief in almost all cultures—even when women did most of the society’s productive work, as well as bearing its next generation.” --Doris Weatherford i Women have played a valuable role in all of America’s military conflicts; over time, the roles they have played have helped them to become more accepted as useful contributors to war efforts. Traditionally women have worked “behind the scenes” assisting in ways that were considered suited to their ability; but as times have progressed, modern women have proven their ability in both planning and carrying out military strategy. The impacts of female involvement in times of war have enabled political, economic, and social change as women have proven not only their competence, but their desire to be on the forefront of military activity. Female involvement in World War Two, both on the home front and in battle, made great strides in the field of gender relations and helped enact social change; the WASPs and projects like it helped pave the way for women to have a more active role in military operations. World War II was an international conflict that helped shape the course of modern history. Ending in 1945, the War helped elevate the United States to a position as global...
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...were often wealthy. Voting often excluded people given the gender or race. Eventually, women wanted to vote; however, restrictions on voting directly said that this was not allowed, thus the Women’s Suffrage Movement was born. There was a central feeling among most men that women either did not want to vote, or were not competent enough to vote, women argued that they were just as capable of voting as men were. This movement continued to make waves for decades, finally succeeding in the addition of the nineteenth amendment in 1920 which gave women the right to vote. Around the time of the introduction of the nineteenth amendment, women began to take initiative and work their way into the workforce, throughout this period of time, ‘Rosie the Riveter,’ a widely known poster, was a big part of wartime efforts which also helped to get women into workforce. Since women's suffrage movements were successful, there hasn't been much done to look into women in the workforce, however women are now coming through showing how much they do and pointing out unfair workplace settings. Before the nineteenth amendment was introduced women could not vote, own property, or work. “Men presumed that women really did not desire the vote. Some argued, however, that women were competent to vote, regardless of their desire to do so” (Cogan). The central thought among most men was that mind capacity changed as gender changed. Women were thought to have a particular, inferior, subsequent mind capacity;...
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...Women in our country have been second class citizens since our countries inception and still struggle today with maintaining equal rights. Women in the United States have faced a long and arduous road towards acquiring equal rights in the eyes of the government and still fight today to be seen as equals in all that they do. From the time before the Civil War until present day the issue of equal rights for women has been fought for by many activists. Women have struggled with issues such as the right to vote in elections and receive equal pay for equal work in the workplace. There have been many victories in the battle to become equal citizens by women, but there have also been many setbacks throughout the history of our country. In 1868 one of the pioneers of the women’s movement Elizabeth Stanton gave a speech to the Women’s Suffrage Convention entitled the Destructive Male. “Twenty years earlier, at Seneca Falls, New York, she had helped to launch the women’s right movement in America.”(History, Art & Archives 2013) In her speech she outlined how masculinity offered elements of negativity to the world and that a woman’s touch would be needed to help counter balance this fact. “The male element is a destructive force, stern, selfish, aggrandizing, loving war, violence, conquest, acquisition, breeding in the material and moral world alike discord, disorder, disease, and death.” (Stanton, Elizabeth, 1868) Her speech at the convention is important because it outlined how women...
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