How are you celebrating women in manufacturing?
Women in manufacturing has come a long way since the 1943 issue of the Saturday Evening Post featuring “Rosie the Riveter” on the front cover. Thanks to Mary Doyle Keefe, an American icon, we continue to celebrate women in manufacturing with great pride.
$10 + Mary Doyle Keefe + Norman Rockwell = Rosie the Riveter, Saturday Evening Post on May 29, 1943.
I’m not sure that Mr. Rockwell or Mary could’ve known the impact the 1943 issue would have on the American psyche for generations to come. The image of Rosie the Riveter springs to life, pride, determination, strength and the insatiable resolve to not only overcome, but rise to the top.
Reading and thinking about this demographic it’s easy to assemble a long list of continuing contributions, in various aspects, being made today to the U.S. Manufacturing economy, it’s growth, and innovation by women in manufacturing. That’s how I came across this infographic by eMaint.com, a great visual representation of women in manufacturing.
In the 1990’s women in manufacturing peaked to about 32% of the overall manufacturing workforce, but has been on a steady decline ever since. Although much has been, is being, done to improve the undesirable view of women in the manufacturing field, more needs to be done. With the inception of STEM and other organizations leading the way to educate, mentor and involve girls and young women in the manufacturing sector one can be hopeful that the numbers will change and the stigma that manufacturing is a dirty job and only meant for the male population will give way to innovation and enthusiasm.
It’s been 73 years since Mary Doyle Keefe and Norman Rockwell changed the public face of manufacturing forever and personified Rosie the Riveter and we continue to celebrate her!
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