Rosie the Riveter “We Can Do It!,” Poster by J. Howard Miller
Rosie the Riveter is an icon associated with feminism since the 1940s. This icon was created in 1942 and used during World War II to recruit women to take over the roles of men's jobs while they were away at war. The symbol defies prior societal conventions by representing women's independence through their ability to actually serve and contribute greatly to the workforce. The mass mediation of this poster and specific symbol created a sense of normalization under the topic of accepting women for more than their typical housewife roles. With more people seeing and recognizing the symbol, it allowed people to feel more comfortable discussing these topics and nuanced perspectives of the time. In doing so, more women were able to come forward to counteract the obstacles that faced them in achieving independence and in receiving recognition as valuable and capable people.
