A Rose is a Rose is a “Rosie”

Is it just ME, or do you, too remember posters from when you were a child that you just seemed to understand – just because they were always there?

Please tell me it’s NOT just me!

I recall a poster in my hometown Post Office, (Manhasset, New York, U.S.A.); a poster of a woman in work-clothes, her hair tied in a scarf.  I recall she was flexing her muscles.  I loved the poster!

Over the years, the story behind the poster became more understood by those of us born after the fact…

During World War II, the male workforce of the United States was depleted by some 1.7 million men who entered into service to our country.  Many of the factory jobs held by those men were replaced with American women.  For many, these jobs represented a rather healthy raise in earnings.  These jobs were intended to be temporary and the women were expected to return to clerical positions and homemaking when “the boys” returned from war. By and large, that is what happened. 

   

In the meantime, women showed up at work, picked up their drills, welding equipment, and other assorted tools likened to household appliances and did their jobs.  Bills got paid. Perhaps this was the era that also gave birth to the need for childcare for which successful working women paid upwards of $20 per week!

The Westinghouse Company wanted to promote morale in the workplace for these women and created a series of posters set-out to accomplish that.   While many women were photographed in the workplace, the ‘morale posters’ were a cross between photos and artistic renderings.  That was the style of the poster I recall as a child.  I believe it may be the most popular. I still love it!  

 

Now known as the prelude to the feminist movement that followed in the 1960s-1970s, the 1940’s era working woman became known as “Rosie the Riveter” and is an iconic symbol of the strength, resilience, determination and potential of women in the workforce.

Today, I received a fascinating e-mail from a colleague.  It was a news story that recently aired about of a 93 year-old woman, who, almost 70 years after the end of World War II, still reports to the factory, still a “riveter”.

Could we have a better role model; I think not.  What I do think is that we all should get to know this “Rosie” a bit more and appreciate what she represents to working women everywhere.

It is with profound respect that I introduce Elinor Otto, still on the job in Long Beach, California, U.S.A….Elinor “Otto”; a women we all “ought to” respect:

 CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO

So, IS it just me, or do you, too respect, appreciates and love everything that this story represents?

Thank you to the 4.1 million American Rosies

and  the countless number of Rosie’s 

around 

the world.