
(Pictured: “The Westinghouse Poster” and later called “Rosie the Riveter,” made by Miller Howard. It was used as government propaganda during WW2.)
Blog #6
As World War II progressed in 1942, many American men were sent overseas to fight in the army. With men leaving the American workforce in numerous amounts, there were countless jobs that needed to be filled. Employers had no choice, but to have women fill these jobs. An article published by NYU says, “Industries historically averse to hiring women now threw open their doors, challenging traditionally sexist views and forever altering the composition of the workforce” (New York University). Throughout the course of history women fulfilled conservative roles, but were now fulfilling the role of men in society. According to the textbook “American Pageant,” an estimation of 6 million women entered the workforce during this time” (Kennedy 827). This was a significant change for workforce of the time of World War II.
Many women gladly accepted new roles in the workforce because it was a chance to prove themselves equal to men. However, some women, especially the ones with children, hesitated to enter the workforce. For this reason, the government imposed propaganda to persuade women to enter the workforce. One famous propaganda poster referred to as “The Westinghouse Poster” and years later was called “Rosie the Riveter.” J. Howard Miller designed this poster in 1942 (Howard). The poster shows a woman worker wearing a bandana showing her muscle. Muscles, which are usually associated with male power was portrayed on a typical American woman. This caught the attention of many women. The poster helped the women envision a life that would be equal to men, which was unheard of during the time.
The top of the poster reads “We Can Do It.” As part of the propaganda campaign, the government introduced a character named Rosie to represent the women in America. “The strong, bandanna-clad Rosie became one of the most successful recruitment tools in American history, and the most iconic image of working women in the World War II era” (Rosie the Riveter). Rosie was based on a real woman named Rosie Monroe who was an aircraft assembly worker. The fact that Rosie was a real women worker really helped the women relate to the propaganda. The women thought that if Rosie could do it, then they could too.
This poster motivated women to take on the role of men in society. The propaganda along with many others that followed imposed a patriotic feeling amongst these women (Gassner). They wanted to work because of the love for America than solely for wages.
“The Westinghouse Poster” significantly helped the American women gain confidence in them as they were working to keep America functioning during difficult times. Without this poster the government may have not been able to convince as many women to continue working for the greater good of America. These women built planes, bombs, and many weapons that helped America win World War II. Looking at the greater historical context, by taking on the role of men in the workforce, these women helped sustain America’s economy during the tragic wartime. As an article on Rosie the Riveter says that by “proving that they could do the jobs known as “men’s work” created an entirely new image of women in American society, and set the stage for upcoming generations” (United States History).
Works Cited
Gassner, Danna. “We Can Do It! A Semiotic Approach to J. Howard Miller’s Rosie the Riveter
Poster and the Morale of World War II Era American Women.” Academia Education, 2012. Web. 14 Mar. 2015.
Kennedy, David M., Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas Andrew Bailey. “Chapter 35 America in
World War II.” The American Pageant: A History of the American People. 13th ed. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2010. 827-28. Print.
Howard Miller. “Rosie the Riveter” The Westinghouse Electric Corporation. 1942.
New York University. Division of Libraries. Rosie the Riveter “We Can Do It” Women’s Stories
Come to Life. Nyu.edu. New York University, 18 Jan. 2012. Web. 14 Mar. 2015.
“Rosie the Riveter.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.
“United States History: Rosie the Riveter.” United States History. United States History, n.d.
Web. 07 Mar. 2015.