Rosie the Riveter

During World War II, many working-age men in America left their jobs to become soldiers or to play other roles in the US Armed Forces. Faced with a lack of workers and a wartime economic boom of demand, American companies and munitions factories began putting out a call for women to join the workforce. Rosie the Riveter was created as part of a concentrated effort to recruit female workers. The song “Rosie the Riveter,” which depicted a patriotic and driven female worker, was followed by a slew of images and slogans that encouraged American women to join the workforce.

Although Rosie the Riveter appeared in many incarnations during World War II, the most well-known version is a young white woman wearing a pair of blue coveralls and a red bandana to tie back her hair. She’s crooking her right arm and grasping her bicep with her left hand. The speech bubble from her mouth says, “We Can Do It!”

Post-war, Rosie the Riveter has endured as a feminist icon and symbol. The women who joined the workforce were referred to as “Rosies,” and their wartime taste of independence is credited with sparking the second wave feminist movement of the 20th century. Several celebrities, including Beyoncé and Pink, have dressed as Rosie the Riveter to make feminist statements. Her image continues to represent American feminism and women’s empowerment.