Ladies of Labor WW II

I have always been intrigued by women working in factories and mills during World War II.

When the women's movement kicked in during the 1960s, I was confused as to why it was

questioned whether women could do certain jobs, because they already had.  I did learn,

however, from women who worked in Pittsburgh's big factories during the war, that it often took two

women to do the job of one man, and they were someone slower.  But they did it! 

They got it done.  And when I asked several of them if they felt bad about loosing their

jobs when the men returned, I was told, "Loose our job? We WANTED out of there!!"

Factories in the 1940s was no picnic.  "Rosie the Riveter" is a myth.  We don't think

of "Fred the Happy Fireman" or "Happy the Delightful Cop."  The work these ladies did in

the factory was not a day at the beach.  I laugh when I see those old magazine photos

of these women doing blue-color work in dirty factories but made up in clean clothes and

make up like they are going out for the evening.  My view of them, since I worked in plenty

of factories and on major construction jobs, is that they got every bit as sore and dirty, produced a

bounty of sweat and their ears rang just as much in the noisy mill as the men's did.  And then

there are the pain in the feet.  Rest assured, these ladies busted their behinds at these jobs during World War II

and we are all the better for it.  In my own way, this is a tribute piece to their effort.  A friend of

mine posed for the painting.