Rosie the Riveter

By Sam Deforest-Davis

It all started when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. The United States got involved in WWII and many men were needed to fight. Men left their homes, families, and jobs. People began to realize that women would have to work outside of the homes, something women have never done before. Many people were against this idea but jobs were needed and the government allowed women to work.

Women would travel to work by bus, car, train, and even hitch a ride. There were many propaganda posters and flyers on people’s opinion of women working. Then Rosie the Riveter came along. She was a strong woman, yet still feminine. There were songs, books, movies, and flyers published that were based off of Rosie the Riveter. Because of Rosie, the number of women working raised from 15 million to 19 million.

Many women worked over time. Some women worked 10 hours and 7 days a week. Women worked longer and harder than some men, but they were only paid half of what an unskilled man gets paid. The hard working women led the Allies to victory and later to the Women’s Rights Movement. I hope you enjoyed learning more about all the hard working women on the home front.

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