Rosie the Riveter
“Rosie the Riveter” was a fictional character who symbolized and encouraged the millions of real women who filled America’s factories, munitions plants, and shipyards during World War II (“Rosie the Riveter”).
During World War Two, six million women joined the workforce (Coleman). There were three groups of women that worked: women who were already working were moved up to higher-paying jobs, women who had lost their job to the Great Depression and first-time women who had never worked before (Brothers). Black women got the worst jobs, the jobs that no one wanted, such as factories with explosives (Coleman).
Certain women were recruited for jobs as computers, calculating weapon trajectories. These women were picked out of high schools and colleges throughout the United States. These women were very close, playing cards together, eating together and dancing together (Gumbrecht).
Women worked in pairs as a “riveter” and a “bucker.” The riveter used a gun and shot rivets through the metal. The bucker used a bar to smooth out the rivets on the other side. Riveting required more skill, but bucking required more muscle (Brothers).
Jobs that were held other than factory workers were grocery clerks, elevator operators, telephone operators and ticket sellers (Brothers). Other jobs were welders, lumber mills, steel mills, foundries, electricians, mechanics, and boilermakers. Three million women worked as Red Cross volunteers (Coleman).
During World War Two, six million women joined the workforce (Coleman). There were three groups of women that worked: women who were already working were moved up to higher-paying jobs, women who had lost their job to the Great Depression and first-time women who had never worked before (Brothers). Black women got the worst jobs, the jobs that no one wanted, such as factories with explosives (Coleman).
Certain women were recruited for jobs as computers, calculating weapon trajectories. These women were picked out of high schools and colleges throughout the United States. These women were very close, playing cards together, eating together and dancing together (Gumbrecht).
Women worked in pairs as a “riveter” and a “bucker.” The riveter used a gun and shot rivets through the metal. The bucker used a bar to smooth out the rivets on the other side. Riveting required more skill, but bucking required more muscle (Brothers).
Jobs that were held other than factory workers were grocery clerks, elevator operators, telephone operators and ticket sellers (Brothers). Other jobs were welders, lumber mills, steel mills, foundries, electricians, mechanics, and boilermakers. Three million women worked as Red Cross volunteers (Coleman).
"It happened that a woman's delicate touch enabled her to even excel men..."
("Women on the War Path")
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"The sound of their riveting was like the sound of gunfire..."
("Women on the War Path")
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"Women in Democracy's Arsenal"
"Their skillful hands are doing more and more of the task in arms plants and allied industries." (Adams) |
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