Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
Rosie, the Riveter in Dubuque: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
ROSIE, the Riveter in Dubuque. Rosie, the Riveter, became a symbol of all women war workers during [[WORLD WAR II]] and later a symbol of American feminism. In 1942 "Rosie" did not have a name when she was created by the American artist J. Howard Miller. The poster was called “We Can Do It!” It is thought to be a part of the Westinghouse Electric Corp.’s wartime production campaign to recruit workers. The poster depicted a woman in a red bandanna with her bent arm flexed, rolling up her shirtsleeve. Miller may have based his picture on a United Press International photograph of a young female war worker, Naomi Parker, at Alameda Naval Air Station in California. | ROSIE, the Riveter in Dubuque. Rosie, the Riveter, became a symbol of all women war workers during [[WORLD WAR II]] and later a symbol of American feminism. In 1942 "Rosie" did not have a name when she was created by the American artist J. Howard Miller. The poster was called “We Can Do It!” It is thought to be a part of the Westinghouse Electric Corp.’s wartime production campaign to recruit workers. The poster depicted a woman in a red bandanna with her bent arm flexed, rolling up her shirtsleeve. Miller may have based his picture on a United Press International photograph of a young female war worker, Naomi Parker, at Alameda Naval Air Station in California. | ||
On May 29, 1943, the '''Saturday Evening Post''' featured a drawing of an assembly line worker against an American flag. Norman Rockwell, the artist illustrated another female laborer, holding a lunchbox that with ROSIE written on it. After his cover was published Rose Hickey — an actual riveter in Tarrytown, New York and Rose Monroe, a riveter in Michigan achieved instant stardom. | On May 29, 1943, the '''Saturday Evening Post''' featured a drawing of an assembly line worker against an American flag. Norman Rockwell, the artist illustrated another female laborer, holding a lunchbox that with ROSIE written on it. After his cover was published Rose Hickey — an actual riveter in Tarrytown, New York and Rose Monroe, a riveter in Michigan achieved instant stardom. (1) | ||
Employment patterns in the United States changed between 1865 and 1920. More women entered the work force and stayed employed longer. Before [[WORLD WAR I]], women were found in the service industries such as maids and nurses. They were found in the textile industry as early as 1880. They were usually unmarried and had to support themselves. By World War I, records indicate more than 8 million workers were female. Although they could not vote, serve in the military, and lost jobs in some sectors such as teaching if they married, they were recruited for factory work as soon as war was declared. Munitions factories were the largest employer of women in 1918. (2) | |||
Employment shifted during World War II resulting in most women not beiing employed in the defense industry. By taking over factory and office jobs, women earned more money than ever before--but still less than the wages paid to men. Despite this discrepancy, women who took this work were still accused of "taking men's jobs" and "not being at home like they should be." Women sought jobs for many reasons. Among these was an interest to make more money for the family, earn enough to achieve financial independence, patriotism, and a wish to prove themselves equal to or better than men. (3) | |||
--- | --- | ||
Source: | Source: | ||
1. Bobo, Jeff, "Rosie the Riveter Symbolized Women Who Kept Factories Running During ," The ''Rogersville Review,'' March 16, 2022. Online: https://www.therogersvillereview.com/arts_and_entertainment/article_9ccd598d-2a21-5533-95bd-1d67e69cc368.html | 1. Bobo, Jeff, "Rosie the Riveter Symbolized Women Who Kept Factories Running During ," The ''Rogersville Review,'' March 16, 2022. Online: https://www.therogersvillereview.com/arts_and_entertainment/article_9ccd598d-2a21-5533-95bd-1d67e69cc368.html, p. 9 | ||
2. McCann, Linda Betsinger, "Rosie the Riveter of Iowa," Tandem Publishing Group, p. 9-10 | |||
3. Ibid. p. 12 | |||
Latest revision as of 16:41, 23 June 2026
ROSIE, the Riveter in Dubuque. Rosie, the Riveter, became a symbol of all women war workers during WORLD WAR II and later a symbol of American feminism. In 1942 "Rosie" did not have a name when she was created by the American artist J. Howard Miller. The poster was called “We Can Do It!” It is thought to be a part of the Westinghouse Electric Corp.’s wartime production campaign to recruit workers. The poster depicted a woman in a red bandanna with her bent arm flexed, rolling up her shirtsleeve. Miller may have based his picture on a United Press International photograph of a young female war worker, Naomi Parker, at Alameda Naval Air Station in California.
On May 29, 1943, the Saturday Evening Post featured a drawing of an assembly line worker against an American flag. Norman Rockwell, the artist illustrated another female laborer, holding a lunchbox that with ROSIE written on it. After his cover was published Rose Hickey — an actual riveter in Tarrytown, New York and Rose Monroe, a riveter in Michigan achieved instant stardom. (1)
Employment patterns in the United States changed between 1865 and 1920. More women entered the work force and stayed employed longer. Before WORLD WAR I, women were found in the service industries such as maids and nurses. They were found in the textile industry as early as 1880. They were usually unmarried and had to support themselves. By World War I, records indicate more than 8 million workers were female. Although they could not vote, serve in the military, and lost jobs in some sectors such as teaching if they married, they were recruited for factory work as soon as war was declared. Munitions factories were the largest employer of women in 1918. (2)
Employment shifted during World War II resulting in most women not beiing employed in the defense industry. By taking over factory and office jobs, women earned more money than ever before--but still less than the wages paid to men. Despite this discrepancy, women who took this work were still accused of "taking men's jobs" and "not being at home like they should be." Women sought jobs for many reasons. Among these was an interest to make more money for the family, earn enough to achieve financial independence, patriotism, and a wish to prove themselves equal to or better than men. (3)
---
Source:
1. Bobo, Jeff, "Rosie the Riveter Symbolized Women Who Kept Factories Running During ," The Rogersville Review, March 16, 2022. Online: https://www.therogersvillereview.com/arts_and_entertainment/article_9ccd598d-2a21-5533-95bd-1d67e69cc368.html, p. 9
2. McCann, Linda Betsinger, "Rosie the Riveter of Iowa," Tandem Publishing Group, p. 9-10
3. Ibid. p. 12