Rosie the Riveter: An American Icon

Introduction

• Rosie the Riveter is a famous icon from the World War II era.
• Initially part of a propaganda campaign, she symbolizes the contribution of American women to the workforce during wartime.

Background

• Rosie the Riveter is not based on a single individual but represents millions of women who entered the workforce during WWII.
• After the U.S. entered WWII in 1941, there was a push for women to replace men who had enlisted as soldiers.
• Approximately 6 million women joined the workforce, increasing female workforce participation from 27% to nearly 37% between 1940 and 1945.
• Half of these women worked in defense industries.

Rosie in Popular Culture

• Song: "Rosie the Riveter" was a popular song released in early 1943 by swing band leader James Kern K. Kaiser.
• Norman Rockwell's Painting: In 1943, Rockwell painted a female riveter for the cover of the Saturday Evening Post's Memorial Day issue.
  • The painting depicted a woman resting with Hitler's "Mein Kampf" under her foot.
  • Rockwell's model was a dental hygienist named Mary Keith.

Real-Life Rosies

• After Rockwell's cover, real-life Rosies were cast by the press.
• Rose Will Monroe: A notable real-life Rosie who worked on bomber airplanes at Willow Run Aircraft Factory in Michigan.
  • She appeared in a War Bonds promotional video.

Iconic Imagery

• J. Howard Miller's Poster: In 1942, before the Rosie song, the Westinghouse Power Company commissioned a poster by J. Howard Miller.
  • The "We Can Do It" poster featured a woman flexing her arm, becoming the most associated image of Rosie.
  • This poster was later adopted by the feminist movement in the 1980s as a symbol of female empowerment.

Legacy

• Rosie the Riveter evolved from a wartime propaganda tool to a lasting symbol of female empowerment and resilience in American history.