Rosie the Riveter

Herstory Month: We Remember

In 1942, the Westinghouse Company's War Production Coordinating Committee hired artist J. Howard Miller to design a series of posters that encouraged war effort during the second World War. One of the posters developed was specifically focused on boosting the moral of steel workers. At the time, since the men were off at war, most of the workers were female. Hence, Miller’s poster depicted a female steel worker saying, “We Can Do It”

Months later, a different artist made his own depiction of the original poster. This time the woman was much bulkier and was seen eating her lunch with a rivet gun on her lap. At her feet was Hitler’s book, “Mein Kampt.” The name written on the women’s lunchbox was “Rosie” and so she henceforth was known as “Rosie the Riveter.”

Eventually, the artist’s poster was taken down due to copyright protection. However, the title of “Rosie the Riveter” transferred over to the original poster made by J Howard Miller.

After the war, Rosie the Riveter wasn't seen too often, until the 1950’s and 1960’s, when the Women’s Right Moment began to unfold. Rosie the Riveter was once again used to empower women. Except this time it was not to work for war but to work for equal rights. Rosie was a symbol that showed women have the strength and power do what men can do. Today, Rosie the Riveter remains a symbol of equal rights and is used by women all over the country to support equality. This is history. This is her story.