Photos courtesy of The History ChannelДЄfter working at the plant for less than three weeks, Geraldine Hoff left her position due to worries about hurting her hands.

He used that image as his springboard for вЂњWe Can Do It.вЂќ When Miller was hired by Westinghouse to paint inspiring female recruitment photos, he immediately thought of the newspaper photo he had seen. Right after graduating high school, she got a job at a Michigan munitions plant and her picture was taken by a UPI photographer. The person we all think of as Rosie was named Geraldine Hoff, and she was only 17 years old. Howard Miller as his Westinghouse poster girl. The вЂњWe Can Do ItвЂќ model was a real-live woman, too, but she had no idea she had been utilized by J. (Photo courtesy of the Saturday Evening Post)Д«ut what about the вЂњfauxвЂќ Rosie? The one who has her hair pulled up into a kerchief, flashes a pair of striking eyes that are intense and fearless, and is posing in a bodybuilder manner that brooks no arguments or blowback from her critics. It has faded into the realm of вЂњfair use,вЂќ and its model, a then-19-year-old Rockwell neighbor named Mary Doyle, finally received national recognition. Only in recent years has this cover been permitted to go out into general circulation once more. That image was a huge success when it debuted on May 29, 1943, but it faded from the publicвЂ™s memory as time sped on and new generations were born. That painting showed Rosie sitting in front of the American flag, holding a sandwich and crushing Mein Kampf, HitlerвЂ™s autobiography, beneath her feet.

The вЂњrealвЂќ Rosie the Riveter illustration was done by Norman Rockwell for the Saturday Evening Post. It only became associated with the Rosie the Riveter phenomenon in the 1980s when feminism had become an undeniable and unstoppable force to be reckoned with. Howard Miller rendering was just known within the ranks of the Westinghouse Corporation throughout the 1940s. Interestingly, the coverall-wearing, bandana-sporting heroine, who stoically stares at the viewer and flexes her muscles, was not the original Rosie. (Photo courtesy of Madame Alexander Dolls) So, itвЂ™s quite possible that an actual Rosie the Riveter or Wendy the Welder (another inspirational character that didnвЂ™t gain as much notoriety) could have resided in my house. The neighborhood that I live in is called the вЂњRadio DistrictвЂќ because the engineers and employees who worked for Westinghouse moved into these homes back in the 1940s. During the World War II years, many women filled the vacuum that had been left by their male counterparts who had enlisted or were drafted into the military ranks.

Howard Miller for the Westinghouse CompanyвЂ™s 1942 factory morale program. WhatвЂ™s really amazing is that one of the most recognizable faces (and biceps) of the feminist movement is the вЂњWe Can Do ItвЂќ poster that was created by J. (Photo courtesy of Accoutrements Action Figures) The doll industry has been made by, for, and with the power of women. Think Ruth Handler and Mattel, Madame Alexander and the Alexander Doll Company, for starters. In the doll world - where many people still mistakenly equate вЂњbaby dollвЂќ with вЂњgirly girl,вЂќ вЂњfashion dollвЂќ with вЂњfrilly and simply prettyвЂќ - there are innumerable real-life personalities who have proven that the art of making dolls is a profession where women have made money, sealed their reputations, and built thriving, profitable businesses. As part of the week-long and month-long celebrations, events are launched that promote the power and accomplishments of female scientists, leaders, authors, entrepreneurs, and cultural icons. 8, specifically) honors International WomenвЂ™s Day. March is WomenвЂ™s History Month, and the second week of March (Mar. Photo courtesy of Debbie Ritter, Uneek Doll Designs, Etsy

Rosie the riveter tools of the trade