Rosie the Riveter- aCultural Iconof World War II - Essay Example

Before the war, women were perceived traditionally as housekeepers, made to take care of the needs of the children and their husbands, as well as the necessary activities to keep the house neat and tidy.

They are feminine and were treated so. They were not allowed to do difficult jobs rather they were supposed to be dainty and therefore do ‘feminine’ jobs like cooking, cleaning, sewing, doing the dishes and the laundry, ironing, seeing to it that the husband and children are well-dressed and well-fed. On the other hand, the men were supposed to do difficult jobs. They were considered to be the breadwinners, going out of the house to find good-paying jobs and bring home the money for the family’s needs.

They are masons, carpenters, plumbers, lawyers, doctors, politicians, and many others. Their wives were supposed to just stay behind them to support whatever endeavor they indulge in. They were the only income-generating members of the family. However, when the war broke, the men were called to enlist as soldiers to defend the country. The need to do so was strongly and widely advertised and soon the working men left their jobs. Planes and armaments were needed for the war but there was a decline in the supply because there were no men to do the necessary tasks in making them.

The government’s attention was turned to the women. Mothers and daughters were recruited to help their husbands, fathers, uncles, and brothers who were risking their lives to defend them in the war. They were called to do the works the men left home. They were called to become factory workers, riveters and to do other difficult jobs only men were allowed to do before the war. Despite the initial hesitation among husbands to let their wives work and among the women, wondering if they would be able to perform as efficiently as the men, they were compelled to work because of the need the war called for.
One other reason that probably attracted women to do the men’s works was compensation.