Rosie The Riveter Poster Analysis

Rosie the Riveter was the star of a campaign aimed at recruiting female workers for defense industries during World War II. The poster's bright and appealing bold colors draw immediate attention along with the striking "We Can Do It!" slogan. Rosie's bicep is flexed and exposed and she is wearing a blue shirt with a red bandanna. She is not smiling, but has a look of strength and power, as if she is challenging her viewers. The makeup she is wearing slightly softens her face and adds to her femininity.

J. Howard Miller, a Pittsburgh artist, was the creator of the original the poster (History.com Staff, 2010). The image of the strong woman was featured on a poster for Westinghouse Electric Corporation under the headline, "We Can Do It" (History.com Staff, 2010). At the time this poster was made, it had no intention of supporting women's rights (History.com Staff, 2010). The poster was created as a team-building gesture that men and women alike at Westinghouse adopted for rallies and community building (History.com Staff, 2010). The image was originally intended for factory workers, both men and women, not the general public and not as a statement of

workforce increased from 27 percent to nearly 37 percent (History.com Staff, 2010). By 1945, nearly one out of every four married women worked outside the home (History.com Staff, 2010). Though they were needed and, women still encountered resistance, but the military's needs outweighed its reluctance to allow women to serve. Women became factory workers, mechanics, engineers, plumbers, tank drivers, ship builders, nurses, etc (History.com Staff, 2010). Women also served in the Women's Army Corps (WAC). Women served in non-combat areas such as mechanics repairing vehicles, army post offices sorting mail, and working in communications and warning systems (History.com Staff, 2010). There were 150,000 women in the WAC by the end of the war (History.com Staff,