Blog 5: Rosie the Riveter

            Rose Will Monroe was born in Bobtown (Pulaski County), Kentucky on March 2^nd, 1920. She was a famous iconic figure that was later coined as an activist for the feminist movement. Rose is well known as the made up character, “Rosie the Riveter”, the character depicted in Kay Kyser’s song. She was chosen to represent Rosie the Riveter because she best fit the character described in the song. She appears in the famous image shown to the left wearing a bandana and flexing her muscles with a logo saying “We Can Do It”. Her image of “Rosie the Riveter” was created to represent the many women who joined the work force from 1940-1945. This icon was ultimately created to show that women were active in the war effort as well as men.  Rosie the Riveter, aimed to tell the world that women can do a “man’s job”.

Rose was a young, loving mother of two daughters. She was left a widow after her husband was killed in a car accident, which is what led her to the workforce. Rose worked as a riveter at Michigan’s Willow Run Bomber Plant. She later went on to work building B-29 bombers at Ford’s Willow Run Aircraft Factory. Rose became the famous icon for Rosie the Riveter and later had an appearance in a film, but chose to return to the workforce even after the war ended.   

Although she passed on May 31, 1997, Rose (a.k.a. Rosie the Riveter) changed the American workplace for women forever. She changed the view of society that women should be assumed as housewives by becoming one of the most widely known icons of that era. Rose was an inspirational icon that has changed the view of women in the workplace. She continues to help the balance the power between men and women in the workforce today.

Sources:
"Rosie the Riveter." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 04 Nov. 2014. Web. 13 Apr. 2014.

"Fighting to Save Rosie the Riveter's Factory." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 31 July 2013. Web. 16 Apr. 2014.