Rosie the Riveter

Rosie the Riveter, while possibly not the most well-known name, is a tremendously well-known icon that originated in WWII but has been used ever since for more than war effort propaganda. In WWII times, she represented the women workforce in factories that had been newly implemented to help the war effort in production. Because so many people were required, and millions of troops (male) were sent overseas, women had to step up to aid in production of tanks, planes, and ammunitions. It also became a symbol of feminism for women in WWII times who felt they had a right to the same liberties and rights that were granted to men because they were contributing to their country's safety just as much as men were. Rosie the Riveter was most closely associated with Rose Will Monroe, a "riveter," or someone working in the factories who got their names from attaching rivets, similar to screws, onto the machines. However, the term "riveter" was applied to the majority of women who worked in factories, and Rosie the Riveter represented less a select person and more an entire group of people.