Rosie The Riveter Essay

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We can do it! The popular slogan reflected the tens of thousands of women working during World War Two. This slogan paired with positive propaganda, empowered women to step out of their homes and into the workforce in support of the war effort. Rosie the Riveter was the main character symbolizing the patriotic role of women working for the war. “Rosie the Riveter” was a song about a strong working female factory worker that was also turned into a magazine cover by Norman Rockwell and a propaganda poster for Westinghouse Electric. Women hung up their cooking aprons, took their kids to daycare, and started working in a “man's job”. The American woman was increasingly discontent to remain at home, raise children and serve their husbands in …show more content…

Immediately after the war, the percentage of women in the workplace increased by twenty percent. Women experienced freedom and finally were able to live their own lives and not have to worry about starting a family right away. Over the next decade, this feminist pride continued to grow as more and more woman had the courage to stand up for themselves and pursue the life and careers they wanted. More woman started to go to college and graduate with a degree. According to Susan Ware in her article “Holding Their Own; “American Woman in the 1930s”, women even started to take substantial roles in government to promote women's rights. (Ware 158). With women achieving more high end jobs and focusing less on solely raising a family, the entire dynamic of society changed. Despite government propaganda to resist this societal change, Rosie the Riveters message of “We can do it!” was too strong in womens hearts. The women's movement in the 60s and 70s focused mainly on ending discrimination in the workplace. Without Rosie, many woman would never have had the courage to go to work in the first place.
Rosie the Riveter continues to inspire women even today. Her original message of incorporating women into the workforce has changed to feminism and equality for all

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