Girl Power!

Rosie the Riveter.
Not, a real woman, of course.
But a representation of oh, so much more.
She represents the SIX MILLION women who worked in the manufacturing plants that produced ammunition, and materiel during World War Two.
Thats right
SIX MILLION WOMEN.

When I get an award with her face on it, I take that as a very high compliment. Thanks Daryl e!

But before I award it to a few others, let me tell you more about Rosie, and the women she represents. I am doing this today, Thursday, because lilacspecs had the fantastic idea to put it on out there, and for us to Proclaim ourselves as strong women. And then blog about it. I can so get behind that. Oh, and Lilac? Please consider yourself the first one I am passing on the Rosie award to...

Anyhow.
Those SIX MILLION women took the places of all the men that were absent from their families, and jobs, fighting in the Pacific and European theaters of WW II.
She is actually associated with one woman, who worked as a riveter in an aircraft factory in Michigan, building bombers. I am not going to single her out NOT because she isn't deserving, but because Rosie the Riveter has come to mean so much more.
There is even a Rosie the Riveter song, that was released in 1943.
By 1944, the number of working American women increased to 20 MILLION. Yep. 20 million. One of those 20 million being CamiKaos' and my Grandmother.
The working conditions for many of them were very poor, and the pay was not equal to what the men were/had been making. But women responded to the need, and the image of Rosie, and worked anyhow, considering it their patriotic duty.
There is controversy, as always, associated with this, too. Some claim that this need, and the fact that women were working during this time, is what really opened the workforce up to women. Others argue that point, with the valid complaint that the majority of the "Rosie's" were discharged from their jobs after the war, so the returning men could work.
One thing is clear, though. Women proved that they were willing, and able to perform jobs that had been, until then, thought to be not possible. However, the job market did not open again to women, in such large proportions, again, until the 1970's, and by that time factory employment was in a sharp decline, all over the USA.

So, Rosie the Riveter. A representation of women, up to 20 MILLION of them, during WW II. Without these women doing the jobs they did, I honestly, IMHO do not believe we would have had the success we did winning WW II.
I am not saying they WON the war, by any means. Nor would I take away from the valiant men that went and fought.
But those women? Tough, strong women. I have admiration for them all. They did their part.

So. The award. The one at the top there. I want to give it away. And honestly? I am going to only give out a few. Not that I don't think you ALL are strong, feisty women, like Rosie. But because if I keep giving awards to my whole blog roll, there will be no mystery anymore.

So. You all see I passed it on to Lilacspecs, right? Go there when you are done here and follow the trail of all the Proclaimers.
Including Holly whom I would also like to give this award to.
And to Cami because if it was not for her, I wouldn't blog. She got me started, so all my awards are hers, anyhow.
And, last but not least, one of my newer blog friends. Miss Burrows. I love her blog, and her humor, and her treasures. She is a treasure.

So, to my awarded friends, pass it on in good health and strongness.

And to the women of WW II who fall under the umbrella of Rosie the Riveter, I salute you. And I thank you for what you did. You all stepped up to the plate, worked under less than desirable circumstances, and did a job many believed you could not do. And most of you? Lost your jobs when the men came home. Some of you didn't mind, but some of you were really hurt by that. But strong work, ladies, strong work. I hope the image of Rosie, the strong woman, is around to represent you, forever.