Life And Times Of Rosie The Riveter: An Analysis

Mother Jones’ quote “women don’t have careers…they have jobs” refers to the previous role women held in the private and public sphere. The private sphere suggests home life while public is the workforce. The historically typical view of a middle class woman was in the home as a housewife and mother. It was the responsibility of the husband to have a career and provide financial support to the family as the ‘breadwinner.’ When a woman had to enter the workforce as a second income for her family, she would never be equal her male counterparts. The role of women was directly related to their relationships to the men in their lives. They were accustomed to consistently working to please their husbands and care of the children, while sacrificing …show more content…
These jobs did not pay as much and were not valued highly within society. A woman’s main concern was her family, which had priority over a job. Women were not fulfilled being forced into being a housewife and after the being of World War II; more women were allowed the opportunity to enter the workforce. As men were being sent into war, women were working the factories and building the instruments needed to fight a war. Connie Field’s “The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter,” discusses the iconic image of a working woman that was used to inspire housewives to ‘do their part in the war,’ and work in the factories. One woman in the interview, Lola Weixel, stated about the work, “Actually, it could be learned, and learned well, if it was taught well, in a short period of time” (Field, page 294). These women were highly successful in the factories and enjoyed this work, especially with their peers. However, they faced some discrimination in the job from males and women of color had to face discrimination. Some women worked to make these jobs into their careers but when the war ended, they lost their