Rosie the Riveter

Rosie the Riveter

Women in the workforce in WWII

Need for Workers

Because so many men went to war, there was a great need for workers in industry. The war also created new jobs in the defense industry. The govt. created a propaganda campaign to entice women to work and included ROSIE the RIVETER as one of the symbols of women helping the country during the war.

We Can Do It!

• This slogan was found on posters, in songs, and other popular culture.

• There were also many pictures of "Rosie"

• The slogan made women feel that they could do jobs that had once only been considered "men's" jobs.

How many women?

• Approximately 6 million new women went to work in war plants producing war supplies to help the war effort.

• As many as 19 million total women were in the workforce, but many of them had already been working prior to the war.

A Symbol

As you can see in the pictures, there were MANY ROSIES. That is because she was not an actual person, but instead a "CULTURAL ICON" , a "REPRESENTATIVE" and a "SYMBOL" of all women in the workforce during WWII. Rosie the Riveter also came to represent American feminism and women's economic advantage.

The Song

The idea to call women in the workforce Rosie the Riveter came from a song with that title by Redd Evans and John Jacob Loeb. The song tells about Rosie and how she supports her country and her "boyfriend Charlie--the Marine" while she "works overtime on the riveting machine".

Not only Riveters

• Some of the traditionally male jobs that women held during the war were:

• heavy construction machinery

• lumber and steel mills

• unloading heavy freight

• making munitions

Norman Rockwell's Rosie

• Strong and powerful

• Holding a Riveter

• Check out what her feet are resting on

• What do you think that means?

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Merium Wall being Rosie

This is Mrs. Moore's husband's grandmother. She worked in munition plants and the defense industry during WWII. She was a Rosie! She lived until 2015 and had fond memories of working during the war to support the country.

On the workroom wall

Merium said this photo was taken of her and placed on the wall in the workroom as an example of the proper way to wear the uniform.

The Shipyard

This photo of Merium shows her standing in a shipyard in California during WWII. She was around 23 years old at the time. Notice her iconic scarf headcovering that so many Rosie's wore while they were at work. We still have the nametag she is wearing on her pocket.

Multiple Choice

Where did the term Rosie the Riveter come from?

• the lady who wrote a book about working in WWII

• A song written to promote women working in industry during WWII

• A movie about women working in WWII

• women were given roses during WWII for helping the country

Multiple Choice

How many women entered the workforce and worked in the defense industry during WWII?

• 1 million

• 6 million

• 10 million

• 19 million

Multiple Select

What kinds of jobs did Rosie the Riveter do? (check all that apply)

• answering phones

• operating a riveter

• lumber and steel mills

• working in a daycare

• making munitions

Multiple Choice

What did the slogan "We can Do It" mean?

• women could help in the military

• women could do housework

• women could do traditionally male jobs

• everyone could help win the war

Multiple Choice

In Norman Rockwell's Rosie, what were her feet resting on?

• the Bible

• Mein Kampf

• a dictionary

• a riveting manual

Multiple Select

Who was Merium Wall? Check all that apply.

• Mrs. Moore's husband's grandmother

• a Rosie the Riveter

• a famous lady that the Rosie was designed after

• a woman who worked in an office at the war plant.