One woman’s comment was typical: “My brother went into the Army, and now I feel that I’m in the fight, too.”įrom “lingerie to camouflage netting from baby carriages to field-hospital food carts from lipstick cases to bomb fuses. Though the higher pay of defense industry jobs was certainly attractive (an average of 60 to 90 cents an hour plus overtime in a 48 hour workweek, compared to non-war work that averaged 45 cents an hour), many women signed on for patriotic reasons. “Millions of women will have to take part in the production program, replacing men whose services will be needed in the armed forces or elsewhere than in their accustomed jobs.” He called on the organization to adopt his suggestion to mobilize “women in war work.” It was a national call to action spurred by the stark reality that, as Doris Weatherford wrote in her book American Women and World War II, “Production was essential to victory, and women were essential to production.”Īs early as February 1942, women were responding to local calls to enter the workforce. Rosie the Riveter is still a powerful image in American culture. The enlarging war effort calls for the services of every qualified and able-bodied person, man or woman. Roosevelt didn’t mince words, writing, “There need no longer be any debate as to the place of women in the business life of this nation. “Beauty Kits for Bonuses” Nation’s Business magazine “The hand that rocks the cradle can also run a drill press.” Maffett, one designed to rally America’s women and make them active participants in the war effort. Roosevelt sent a letter to the organization’s president, Dr. To commemorate that event, President Franklin D. But with millions of men voluntarily or through conscription entering the military that attitude had to quickly change before the growing labor shortage crippled the country’s ability to be the “arsenal of democracy.” America’s entry into the war was about ten months old when, on October 17, 1942, the National Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs (now the Business and Professional Women’s Foundation) prepared to kick off its fourth annual National Business Women’s Week. The exceptions were such “women’s work” roles as store clerk, waitress, laundress, secretary, telephone operator, teacher and a few other careers. We guarantee the authenticity of all our posters.When the war began, American society largely regarded the proper role of women was that of homemaker and mother. This poster is conservation mounted, linen backed, and in excellent condition. This is an Original Vintage Poster it is not a reproduction. After 4 years in the navy, Maurer moved to the United States where he worked for acclaimed poster artist, Lucien Bernhard, before opening his own studio. Maurer studied at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts and worked independently with acclaimed poster artist, Ludwig Hohlwein. Maurer completed many poster designs for both the New Haven Railroad and the Pennsylvania Railroad. Sascha Maurer (1897- 1961) was born in Germany and was well known for his flair of modern design in ski and travel posters from the 1930s to 1940s. On the bottom left hand side of the poster, the text reads "Don’t sit on it, it’s not a pillow or a knapsack" furthering reinforcing the importance of the gas masks proper care. This indicates that if you are careless with your mask, you could die. On the top portion of the poster, the text reads "Carelessness Means Death" with a shattered gas mask on the left shadowed by a green skull. This poster is a definite reminder of the importance of wearing and protecting your gas mask. Propaganda, such as this poster, would also be regularly used during this time as a reminder to fellow citizens. Gas masks became an integral part of life schools would perform instructional lessons for children and adolescents on how to use and put on your gas mask. As a result, the use of gas masks became a main proponent in the protection of American and British citizens. Since poisonous gas had been used a great deal in the First World War, the fear of its more prominent use in World War II spread throughout Britain and the United States. This poster was issued by the US Army during World War II to promote the proper usage and care of gas masks on the Homefront.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |