Rosie the Riveter – WW 2



With so many males in America being called to service in the military from 1941 to 1945 (World War 2), on the homefront, the American hometowns and cities, they saw the need to keep businesses running and factories operating. Of special need was for war supplies such as munitions, tanks, planes, etc.

So it the ladies who stepped up to the plate working in factories and shipyard to do what needed to be done. An iconic name and appearance for these female war workers developed, that of ‘Rosie the Riveter’ A song was developed in 1942 by Redd Evans and John J. Loeb that highlighted Rosie the Riveter. The song made popular by bandleader, Kay Kyser, portrayed a tireless assembly line worker who did her part for the war effort. Even a Hollywood movie with that title in 1944.

An estimate of 19 million women of all types of backgrounds and ethnic heritage held jobs during World War 2 and working side by side. To convince the ladies they could do this factory work, posters stated; “Can you use an electric mixer? If so, you can learn to operate a drill”. The slogan “We Can Do It !” also became very popular and even used today for other projects.

The ladies did what was necessary and that also meant for many to care for their children. That was handled with those ladies in a neighborhood who didn’t work in a factory, to serve as child care for the other ladies.

After the war, most ladies returned to being housewives and stay at home mothers. Those who already had a career, nurse, teacher or office worker, continued that work.

This would be a fascinating aspect to check out on a mother, aunt, grand cousin, grandmother or gr grandmother who may have done her part during the war. My own mother served as a Lieutenant with the Woman’s Army Corps and my mother’s cousin was an Army nurse in the military hospitals.

Photos: Song “Rosie the Riveter’; Movie poster ‘Rosie the Riveter’ and Poster ‘We Can Do It’

Related FamilyTree.com Blogs:

Draft Registration Cards

Female Ancestors

Victory Gardens

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