The true identity of Rosie the Riveter has been the subject of considerable debate. For years, the inspiration for the woman in the Westinghouse poster was believed to be Geraldine Hoff Doyle of Michigan, who worked in a Navy machine shop during World War II.
Other sources claim that Rosie was actually Rose Will Monroe, who worked as a riveter at the Willow Run Bomber Plant near Detroit. Monroe was also featured in a promotional film about war bonds.
Rosalind P. Walter from Long Island, New York, is known as Rosie from the popular song by Evans and Loeb. Walter was, in fact, a riveter on Corsair fighter planes.
But the most credible claim on Rosie’s legacy came from Naomi Parker Fraley, who was photographed working in the machine shop at the Naval Air Station in Alameda, California. In the 1942 photo, she is sporting a telltale polka-dotted bandana. Fraley passed away in January 2018. -History
<-Geraldine Hoff Doyle | Rosalind P Walter-> 
<-Rose Will Monroe | Naomi Parker Fraley->
Before WWII, women were largely confined to domestic roles or jobs considered "feminine," such as teaching or clerical work. Wartime necessity shattered these boundaries, demonstrating women’s capability in skilled, technical fields. While many returned to traditional roles after the war, the experience planted seeds of change. Women had proven their value in the workforce, and the demand for workplace equality grew louder in the decades that followed.
Rosie’s impact extended well beyond the war years. Her image became a rallying cry for the women’s rights movements of the 1960s and 1970s, inspiring legislation like the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Today, Rosie continues to inspire advocacy for gender equality and representation in fields like science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
At Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park, visitors can learn about the real women behind the symbol—those who balanced hard labor with family responsibilities, all while contributing to the war effort. Their stories remind us of the profound impact individuals can have when given the opportunity.
Rosie’s legacy isn’t just about breaking barriers; it’s about showing what’s possible. Her enduring message of "We Can Do It!" continues to encourage people to challenge limitations, pursue their ambitions, and work toward a more equitable future. -The National Park Service
So what jobs did Rosie inspire?
American women entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers during the war, as widespread male enlistment left gaping holes in the industrial labor force. Between 1940 and 1945, the female percentage of the U.S. workforce increased from 27 percent to nearly 37 percent, and by 1945 nearly one out of every four married women worked outside the home.
More than 310,000 women worked in the U.S. aircraft industry in 1943, making up 65 percent of the industry’s total workforce (compared to just 1 percent in the pre-war years). The munitions industry also heavily recruited women workers, as illustrated by the U.S. government’s Rosie the Riveter propaganda campaign.
In addition to factory work and other home front jobs, some 350,000 women joined the Armed Services, serving at home and abroad. One of the lesser-known roles women played in the war effort was provided by the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots or WASPs. These women, each of whom had already obtained their pilot’s license prior to service, became the first women to fly American military aircraft. More than 1,000 WASPs served, and 38 of them lost their lives during the war. Considered civil service employees and without official military status, these fallen WASPs were granted no military honors or benefits, and it wasn’t until 1977 that the WASPs received full military status. -History
