Rose
Will Monroe was born in Bobtown (Pulaski County), Kentucky on March 2nd,
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.
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.
Samantha,
ReplyDeleteYour biography helps us to move beyond the popular national figure of Rosie the Riveter to Rose Monroe, the working mother who embodied this mythical persona. Both parts, however, contribute to the social issue of women's rights, particularly in relation to the workplace. You help use to see that, even as a historical individual, Rose demonstrated that a woman could do work traditionally thought appropriate only for men. Indeed, a woman could support her children on her own. This was an important legacy, particularly once the wartime need for women factory workers ended and women were expected to resume domestic roles within their homes.
If your group considers her for the group project, make sure that y'all contextualize women's rights and women's work prior to WWII in order to show contrast. Also, give examples of how she has been, and continues to be, used as a symbol of women's liberation. Since there are debates in Washington right now about equal pay for women, this topic could be timely.
Samantha, this is so interesting and insightful. I had heard of Rosie the Riveter but I had no idea she was based off of a real person I just thought she was a fictional character created to lead women to work during the war. Now knowing of her earlier struggles in life this woman is even more fit to represent working women everywhere. She live through hardships and pushed on anyway.I also think its incredible that even after she was famous and had a role in a movie she continued to work hard to support herself and her family and actively contribute to the economy.
ReplyDelete