TOW #26 (visual text)- We Can Do It!

Reading/writing goals- Choose a piece of propaganda that attempts to persuade viewer's opinions. Write using mature prose, develop thorough analysis that connects back to the purpose of the image and my thesis.

The first half of the 20^th century was a very tough time for a vast majority of Americans, especially for the middle and lower classes. Between WWI, the Great Depression, and WWII, millions of Americans struggled to get by, or even survive, if they were sent to fight in Europe or the Pacific. During the Great Depression, unemployment reached as high as 25% and could have grown even larger if it weren’t for WWII. At the beginning of the war, a large portion of working class men were drafted into the army, and those who weren’t, worked in factories where the demand for labor was huge. In order to feed the US Army and its allies, US industries were forced to produce trillions of dollars in equipment and goods, with a limited work force. This meant workers were asked to work long hours completing physically demanding tasks, usually for minimal wages, leading to great unrest among working class Americans. In response to workers’ anger and unrest, the US War Production Coordinating Committee released this poster as an inspirational message aimed to boost factory workers’ morale.

            As one of the most famous pieces of propaganda in American history, this poster had a large positive impact on US industries, leading to a successful Allies defeat of the Axis Powers. In addition to the effectiveness of the motivational message at the stop saying, “We can do it,” this poster achieves its purpose of boosting morale primarily because of the image of the strong women. WWII was one of the first periods in American history where women were commonly found working in large industries, breaking the typical gender roles for females as they were often viewed as weaker than men. Although, with such a large number of men going to war, it was necessary for women to fill their positions in factories. By portraying a woman in this poster, the War Production Committee effectively appeals to women, convincing them that they have the might to perform such jobs historically held by men. Also, it was empowering for men because it created a sense of competition. Men, believing that they were stronger and more apt for labor than women, saw that a larger number of women were joining the work force and felt it necessary to continue to exert their dominance. This led men to work harder and longer, proving their capabilities and leading to the success of US industries and the army in their war effort.

            Ultimately, the “We Can Do It!” poster is perhaps the most recognized piece of propaganda of the 20^th century for good reason. With its effective message and image, the War Production Committee successful achieved its purpose of boosting workers morale and creating a large work force to complete the work necessary to support the war. Believe it or not, the poster was so effective, it became the center of the feminist movement of the 1980’s, when the woman became known as “Rosie the Riveter.”