Rosie, the Riveter in Dubuque

ROSIE, the Riveter in Dubuque. Rosie, the Riveter, became a symbol of all women war workers during WORLD WAR II and later a symbol of American feminism. In 1942 "Rosie" did not have a name when she was created by the American artist J. Howard Miller. The poster was called “We Can Do It!” It is thought to be a part of the Westinghouse Electric Corp.’s wartime production campaign to recruit workers. The poster depicted a woman in a red bandanna with her bent arm flexed, rolling up her shirtsleeve. Miller may have based his picture on a United Press International photograph of a young female war worker, Naomi Parker, at Alameda Naval Air Station in California.

On May 29, 1943, the Saturday Evening Post featured a drawing of an assembly line worker against an American flag. Norman Rockwell, the artist illustrated another female laborer, holding a lunchbox that with ROSIE written on it. After his cover was published Rose Hickey — an actual riveter in Tarrytown, New York and Rose Monroe, a riveter in Michigan achieved instant stardom.

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Source:

1. Bobo, Jeff, "Rosie the Riveter Symbolized Women Who Kept Factories Running During ," The Rogersville Review, March 16, 2022. Online: https://www.therogersvillereview.com/arts_and_entertainment/article_9ccd598d-2a21-5533-95bd-1d67e69cc368.html