WWII Meant Opportunity For Many Women, Oppression For Others
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| Published Online: September 27, 2007 |
San Francisco Chronicle | 2007-09-26
A man's role in World War II was clear – if he was able-bodied, he went off to fight. The iconic image of women in World War II is Rosie the Riveter, a made-up character in a poster promoting the need for women to step into manufacturing jobs vacated by men. But there also were women in the armed forces and others who tended to the home fires. Like men, many of them never forgot 'The War,' as a few tell filmmaker Ken Burns in his new seven-part PBS series that began Sunday on PBS.
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I am a native West Virginian who has returned to my home state after many experiences (academic, business, nonprofit) in many places (Boston, Denver, Japan). In 2005, I founded an nonprofit organization to teach veterans to learn to manage projects that benefit West Virginians. Our first project is well underway and most popular. It is the "Rosie the Riveter" project, where we interview West Virginia women in their home settings across the state to learn what these women did, felt, knew and did not know.
We are sure we are collecting valuable information. Many American women were Rosies, but the full story of their lives and what this experience meant to them is not really told.
Are we possible partners? 304 / 776-4743
P. S. We are helping Jay Wertz locate WWII soldiers, including on on our board of Directors, Hershel Woodrow ("Woody') Williams.