Geraldine Doyle

Geraldine Doyle died last week at the age of 86. She was the inspiration for the "Rosie the Riveter" poster which proudly proclaimed that We Can Do It. Yes, that one:

Image description: A young White woman flexing her right arm and looking determined. She is wearing a blue factory work shirt, her hair is covered in a red bandanna with white dots. There is a blue speech bubble above her head with the words "We Can Do It!".

And here's Ms Doyle in the 1940s:

Image description: a young White woman is shown leaning over what appears to be a piece of factory machinery. She is wearing a light-coloured factory work clothes, and her hair is tied up and covered with a polka-doted bandanna.

The poster was initially used to recruit women to war service during WWII, and soon became an image of the Women's Movement -- symbolising women's strength, and determination. It's one I've loved for it's positive focus on what women can, and do contribute.

Her obituary in the Washington Post contains this paragraph:

While many people profited off the "Rosie the Riveter" image, Mrs. Doyle often said she never made a penny from it because she was too busy tending to her family and "changing diapers all the time."

I hope the irony is not lost on anyone.

Raise hell, Ms Doyle.

Hat tip: Melissa McEwan at Shakesville.

--IP