Rosie The Riveter

Rosie the Riveter was a campaign for women working during WW1. 11 million men were drafted for the war. Since all these men were gone women began to fill the jobs working. The women helped supply ammo, food, and weapons for the soldiers. The slogan "We can do it" was born.

     The term Rosie the Riveter was first used in 1942 when a song was made. The song talked of a hard working women that worked at a factory. The song soon became a huge hit and was recorded by many different artists. The name Rosie is said to come from a women by the name of Rosie Bonivitas.

      These women worked very hard while their husbands were off at war. They assumed the role of a man and helped out the war effort significally.  Although the women were doing a great job, the government pressed that when the war was over that women assume their normal roles as women.

          The campaign was a huge success improving the women working force from 12 million to 20 million, which was a 57% gain. The women did not get the same fair treatment as the men did though. Men who were working in the factories were payed just a little over 54 dollars a week, while women were getting paid a small amount of 31 dollars per week. Nonetheless Rosie The Riveter convinced women that they need to work to help out their country in the war effort.

      Some people believe  that the Rosie The Riveter opened opportunities for women to join the work force. Others argued that that it not, pointing out that many women were fired after the men returned from work.





http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/rosie-the-riveter

http://www.nps.gov/pwro/collection/website/rosie.htm