My Role in History

                Many people dub Rosie the Riveter as a feminist icon, but historians stress that she wasn't at all. Rosie was created to inspire women to join the work force. In the second world war, a problem arose where (due to the masses of men leaving to serve in the war), there was a huge gap in job vacancies. The country desperately needed American women to step up and continue the work that needed to be done.

                Most of the jobs in dire need were in factories making supplies for the war. Popular jobs for women in this time were on the West coast, often serving in shipyards, in assembly lines or, you guessed it, riveters. Women in this time period were actually accustomed to the working environment, but it was very sexually separated. Women often worked "easy" jobs, in department stores or nurseries, while it was up to the men to do the mining and factory work. When society realized it's need to fill in the jobs, the government created a propaganda campaign to convince the country's wives and mothers to leave their comfortable lives, and move to the west for industry. It was due to "loyal, pretty, and patriotic" Rosie (and her relatable relationship with her soldier boyfriend, Charlie) that women realized that it was their DUTY to serve their country. They could bring honor, and hopefully their loved ones home more quickly, if they answered the call to work.

                While patriotism played a role in recruiting women, the economic side of the coin played a large part in the decision. The western industry jobs proved to pay a lot more than their old ones, in addition to teaching them real life skills, and giving them a sense of satisfaction. However, while Rosie is most associated with factory jobs, the majority of women worked in service for the nation, such as telephone connectors. Women loved these jobs for multiple reasons; the money was better, less dirty work was required, and the hours were more flexible. A huge struggle for women at this time was balancing the load between working at their paid job, and helping at the house. This is a new problem that men had never before had to deal with.

                Although the women were simply trying to help, their actions were not always appreciated. Men grew suspicious of women's intentions and sometimes formed unions against them. Women were not taken seriously in the workplace (especially if working in a traditional male role), and were not given the full advantages that men previously received. Women were paid a lot less, and were denied any say in the direction of their company. The outlook improved, but society consistently reminded the girls that it was their primary job to serve in the household. The belief spread that a careered woman would never find a husband.

                After the war, most of the women were replaced by men workers, and the girls left behind were paid exceptionally less. Although it may have seemed as if all their hard work was erased, the temporary reign in the WWII period gave women a sense of hope. The experience allowed women to believe that they were capable of doing "man work", as well as providing in the household. The euphoria led to the determination for voting rights, and eventually equal rights for women in the United States.