It all started on Sunday, December 7, 1941, the date of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and the date that the United States entered the fighting of World War II. Pearl Harbor was a surprise attack on the United States by Japan during which, “2,403 American died, five battleships sank, other ships were severely damaged, and 200 planes were destroyed”. Colman stated that after this attack, “Some things changed forever, other things changed just for the duration of the war. But almost everything changed”. Life as the middle class American people knew it was about to be altered greatly. Normal supplies that people usually used everyday were going to be in short supply, and many items were going to eventually be rationed. Many signs and posters were plastered around towns and cities everywhere with the slogan, “Use it up/Wear it out/Make it do/Or do without”. People began learning the value of things, how to live with less, sometimes do without, and they learned not to take things for granted.
Once America got involved in the fighting, almost every male who was able and of the correct age got drafted to fight in the war. This left thousands and thousands of jobs open. The women of this time decided to step up and go to work and support the men who were away. In October of 1943, the magazine Woman’s Home Companion put out a quote that explains the new idea of working women perfectly: “American women are learning to put planes and tanks together, how to read blueprints, how to weld and rivet and make the great machinery of war production hum under skillful eyes and hands. But they’re also learning how to look smart in overalls and how to be glamorous after work. They are learning to fulfill both the useful and the beautiful ideal”. This quote sums up exactly what these women were trying to accomplish. They were working a man’s job to support the army by building supplies that were needed yet doing it with grace and class.
This was not without some propaganda. The United States government launched a campaign to make the idea of working look more appealing to women. A poster ad displayed “Rosie The Riveter” who was a fictional character that showed a woman worker with a “big, muscular body and a cute saucy face and pose.” She also has a rivet gun placed in her lap along with a lunchbox with the name “Rosie” inscribed upon it. Another example of one of these ads was the poster that pictured Rosie flexing her muscle and the phrase, “We can do it!” In February of 1943, the song “Rosie the Riveter” was released. Part of the lyrics to this song are as follows: “While other girls attend a favorite cocktail bar, sipping dry martinis, munching caviar; there’s a girl who’s really putting them to shame—Rosie is her name. All day long, whether rain or shine, she’s part of the assembly line, she’s making history working for victory, Rosie, Rosie, Rosie, Rosie, Rosie, Rosie the riveter”
Life for these women had to be tough sometimes. By the end of the war, 18 million women were working. Out of this large number, many of these women were single; however, many were married with children. After putting in a full days work, most women had to come home and care for their family. Downtime and rest were scarce. However, a certain element of patriotism kept them going and loyal to their cause. Most all women had family fighting in the war, and they felt like working to supply the army and help aid in production, a way that they could support their family members who were fighting. I believe this gave them a true love for what they were doing.
After the war was over, many people felt that women were not needed and should return to being homemakers and just doing normal “woman jobs.” Also, many men wanted to return to their original employers that they had before the war. This did not go over well with some of the girls! Many of them loved working in factories and such so much that they wanted to pursue a career in that field. “The Rosie the Riveter campaign had created a new generation of women”
During this time, women chose to step up to the plate. They chose to put aside what made them comfortable and work for a greater cause. I would hope that if America were ever put in a situation like this again that the women of today would follow the lead of these women who came before us. Sadly, I feel like most women of today are so selfish and self-absorbed to really care about what would happen if they didn’t step up! All we can do is hope that if it happens, we could display half of the courage and bravery of each and every woman behind the Rosie the Riveter label. I truly believe that she is a genuine inspiration to many! ....and to think that all that was behind one poster!
:)lgj
:)lgj
