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Photo, Print, Drawing We Can Do It! Rosie the Riveter. We Can Do It!

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About this Item

Title

  • We Can Do It! Rosie the Riveter.

Other Title

  • We Can Do It!

Summary

  • This poster, produced by Westinghouse during World War II for the War Production Co-Ordinating Committee, was part of the national campaign in the United States to enlist women in the workforce. In the face of acute wartime labor shortages, women were needed in the defense industries, the civilian service, and even the armed forces. Publicity campaigns were aimed at encouraging those women who had never before held jobs to join the workforce. Poster and film images glorified and glamorized the roles of working women and suggested that a woman's femininity need not be sacrificed. Women were portrayed as attractive, confident, and resolved to do their part to win the war. Of all the images of working women during World War II, the image of women in factories predominates. Rosie the Riveter--the strong, competent woman dressed in overalls and bandanna--was introduced as a symbol of patriotic womanhood. The accoutrements of war work--uniforms, tools, and lunch pails--were incorporated into the revised image of the feminine ideal.

Names

  • War Production Co-ordinating Committee, United States Creator.

Created / Published

  • [place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified], [1942 to 1943]

Headings

  • -  United States of America
  • -  1942 to 1945
  • -  War posters
  • -  Women
  • -  Women in war
  • -  World War, 1939-1945

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  Original resource extent: 1 color poster.
  • -  Original resource at: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.
  • -  Content in English.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Source Collection

  • United States History

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021669753

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is unaware of any copyright or other restrictions in the World Digital Library Collection. Absent any such restrictions, these materials are free to use and reuse. Researchers are encouraged to review the source information attached to each item. For information on contacting WDL partner organizations, see this archived list of partners

The Library asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here.

Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For additional information and contact information for many of the partner organizations, see this archived capture of the World Digital Library site from 2021.

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

War Production Co-Ordinating Committee, United States Creator. We Can Do It! Rosie the Riveter. United States of America, 1942. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, to 1943] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021669753/.

APA citation style:

War Production Co-Ordinating Committee, U. S. C. (1942) We Can Do It! Rosie the Riveter. United States of America, 1942. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, to 1943] [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021669753/.

MLA citation style:

War Production Co-Ordinating Committee, United States Creator. We Can Do It! Rosie the Riveter. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, to 1943] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021669753/>.