Topic > Rosie The Riveter: Encouraging Women in the Workforce

In modern society, people immediately assume that most careers like flight attendants, secretaries, and nurses are women, and that doctors, pilots, and engineers are men. Before the two great wars broke out, women were expected to remain in their homes to run errands, care for children, and become homemakers while men served as the family's sole breadwinners. Women of those times faced systematic barriers because of these “traditional” female roles that they were supposed to be responsible for. Despite this, the sudden outbreak of World War II in 1939 changed society's opinions and perspectives regarding women in the workforce. During the conflict, men left their day jobs to serve as soldiers in the war. As a result, there is a growing need for workers and women are offered numerous opportunities in the world of work. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay To encourage and recruit more women to apply to the munitions industry, the government of the United States of America created the Rosie the Riveter motivational propaganda campaign. “We can do it!” as stated in the original poster of the headstrong Rosie as she raised her arm and flexed showing a fierce expression. The propaganda campaign was considered a success as hundreds of thousands of women entered the workforce and were able to pursue male-dominated careers and many of them joined the army to fight for the war. The portrayal of Rosie the Riveter in the mass media has emphasized the patriotic need for women to enter the workforce. In the concept of the artwork, the artist-researcher provided two 4 x 4 foot canvases. It forms a diptych and irregularly tile mosaic art form showing Rosie the Riveter emerging from a mask covered in makeup. The mediums used are acrylic paint, satin fabric, thread and rivets. The artist painted on both canvases with the colors necessary for the background. Each mosaic tile has been designed to easily know the correct positioning and to use as a guide to position it on top using the fabric. After sketching, the fabric was then cut into tiled pieces and sewn onto the canvas using thread, depending on the color of the piece. The rivets were then attached to the canvas using a hole punch, rivet press and hammer. The spiral and curved patterns were stitched using white thread. These patterns represent change and finding a new direction in life. The pattern will transition to rivets designed to create angular patterns to symbolize strength and stability. Loose white threads were attached from Rosie's face to the mask to indicate the motion of its removal. The mask itself represents women's traditional norms and the feelings they convey during World War II in the field of work. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay While Rosie the Riveter represents empowerment, confidence, and the ability to overcome all the traditional gender stereotypes thrown at working women. The use of mosaic and fabric in this artwork is to allow viewers to recognize and appreciate them as a basic art form and medium.