A slideshow on Rosie the Riveter, how she was used as propaganda during WWII and if the propaganda was successful.

1. Rosie the Riveter
Propaganda to Shape America
By: Taylor Smith

2. World War II
WWII was a “war of images, as
columnists, cartoonists, and
photographers offered up a wide range of
interpretations”(Mass Media).
Propaganda was a huge tool used by the
government and journalists to achieve
what they wanted from the American
people during a time of need. To win the
war the US wanted our men to unite
against the “enemy” and our women to
back up their men by working in their
place. Propaganda was an important
implement in this task, created and
spread in order to achieve a specific
reaction from our people.

3. Definition of Propaganda: information promoting some cause
purpose of
that is spread for the
Some of the propaganda that was
being spread during WWII
(1941-1945) was to women. Men
were being sent off to war and
America wanted women to take
their place temporarily in the work
force; support their families. The
US was worried about it’s
economy with so many men
having gone to war so “women
were being urged to take
advantage of any technical training
to better prepare themselves to
replace the men now in uniform”
(u-s history).

4. Housewives Previous to WWII the majority of women were
domestic, stay at home mother’s who cleaned
of the and took care of their families. Men were the
“bread-winners” and women were not allowed
1940’s to do hard labor.
They did not even make work boots in
women’s sizes until WWII because there was
no need for them.
It was a huge stretch in the minds of
American’s for women to go out and make a
living, so propaganda was a much needed
tool.
The intent was for women to take a small break
from their “duties” and step-up during the war
to support their men. After WWII was over the
government and male population expected
women go back to the kitchen and laundry
rooms and retire from working on airplanes and
factory work.

5. Examples of Propaganda in the 1940’s
All of these posters
were used tempt women
into the work force to
replace the men who
were at war.

6. How Rosie the Riveter came about: A brief History
Rosie the Riveter was first mentioned in the song a song written by Redd Evans and
John Jacob Loeb in 1943.
A few months later in May 29th, 1943 the cover of “The Saturday Evening Post”
featured the original version of Rosie (large, muscular, sandwich in one hand and
riveter nestled on her lap) drawn by Norman Rockwell.
The Post was extremely popular in the 1940’s and circulation was about 4 million.
The fact the Norman Rockwell’s art was on the cover meant that this edition reached
far over what was expected.
Rockwell’s Rosie has copyright restraints that prohibited it from being spread
anywhere but on the magazine cover. A new “Rosie the Riveter” was drawn by J.
Howard Miller which was much more popular. She the photo was simpler but had a
great impact on American women. Women were drawn to how beautiful yet strong
she was and it made getting a job in the war industry seem like a positive thing. Rosie
became an icon, someone that women across America idolized.
“By 1944, 16 percent of all working women held jobs in war industries”(u-s history).

7. Normal Rockwell’s version of Rosie was a
breakthrough with much more to analyze, but
was less successful due to copyright
restraints and her less feminine appearance.
This Rosie is much larger with gigantic muscles
that suggest she is of equal strength to a man.
She wears overalls which women did not do
before WWII propaganda pushed women into
the working industries.
She wears goggles, a shield and a wrist band
which are all for her protection on the job.
Her upturned nose, neatly done hair, and painted
nails all suggest that while she is strong, she is
also womanly.
The sandwich in her hand symbolizes that she is
still feminine because it reminds women of where
they usually are, in the kitchen, that the two
occupations are not so different. Notice he didn’t
draw Rosie actually working.

8. J. Howard Miller’s Rosie was much better known and was a huge hit.
Women saw her large forearm and serious demeanor and knew she was a
strong women. They also related to her beautiful face and it made them feel
it was alright to be a working mother. Rosie the Riveter was popular and
appeared on ads, necklaces, clocks, lunch boxes, and made into little dolls.

9. Did the propaganda work?
Rosie the Riveter propaganda worked, women started
working outside of their homes and replaced men in the
industries. The United States eventually won WWII and our
men came home, the only thing that didn’t go according to
plan was what would become of women after the war.
Women were now aware of their skills and ability to earn
money on an equal or greater level than men but “the
government insisted that they were just a substitute until the
war was over”. No one had foreseen the possibility that
women weren’t just going to go back to doing dishes and
serving their men at home. “Some faced harassment for
attempting to stay in industryBut the number of working
women never again fell to pre-war levels, and their significant
contribution is still recognized today” (u-s history).

10. "The more women at work,
the sooner we win."
"I hardly saw a man who did not speak
to me about the need for women in
production." -Eleanor Roosevelt
“They have given their sons to the military services. They
have stoked the furnaces and hurried the factory wheels.
They have made the planes and welded the tanks. Riveted
the ships and rolled the shells.” - President Franklin D.
Roosevelt (addressing women's contributions to the war)
“During the war the women
increased the workforce by 50 percent.”

11. “Rosie the Riveter is the female icon of WWII, she is
the home-front equivalent of GI Joe, she represents
any woman defense worker, and for many women
she’s an example of a strong, competent,
foremother.” -Sheridan Harvey
Although WWII has long been over Rosie
the Riveter lives on, she still comes to mind
when women think of overcoming adversity
and being strong. Many aspire to be like
her. On this page and the next are a few
modern recreations of Rosie.

12. To the right and
left are two
random women
recreating Rosie’s
strong, feminine
demeanor.
To the left is a drawing of
Wonder Woman, another
strong, fictional character
that inspires women. She is
in Rosie’s signature pose
signifying that they are both
beautiful and powerful.
To the right is Alexis
Bledel, an actress who
obviously looks up to
Rosie the Riveter and
did a fine job at
recreating her look.

13. Interesting Videos
Link to Hairstyle for Safety WWII
Video of P!nk as Rosie the Riveter
Rosie the Riveters of WWII
Rosie the Riveter
Working women back to Housewives

14. Work Cited:
Jean Folkerts, Dwight L. Teeter, Jr. , Edward Caudill, Voices of a Nation: A History of
Mass Media in the United States (5th ed.) (Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon, 2009),
155. Thomas Smith, The Story of My Career (New York: St. Martin's Press, 2005), 35.
“Rosie the Riveter.” Carmen Electrode. Arc-Zone, 12 Nov 2010. Web. 3 Dec 2010.
<http://www.carmenelectrode.com/category/rosie-the-riveter/>.
“Rosie the Riveter: Real Women Workers in World War II.” Youtube. Web. 3 Dec 2010.
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04VNBM1PqR8>.
“Wars and Battles, World War II Home Front.” Rosie the Riveter. United States HISTORY,
n.d. Web. 4 Dec 2010. <http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1656.html>/
By: Taylor Smith