From Rosie the Riveter to the New Plant Floor

More than eight decades ago, an image and a name captured the American mind: Rosie the Riveter. As the Rosie the Riveter song filled radio waves, the image filled cities, and conversations filled homes, Rosie quickly came to represent something far bigger than a single person. She became the symbol of an entire generation of women stepping into the industrial workforce when men were fighting overseas.

Today, many challenges remain, as evidenced by a recent conversation I had with Kelly Ireland, CEO, CBT. Comparing and contrasting the past to the present provides good fodder for conversation. But, to start, let’s journey back together.

During World War II, women filled roles in shipyards, factories, and heavy industry, as men went off to war. Women did this with skill and determination, ultimately keeping production moving. But even after the war, Rosie’s legacy still persisted. A cultural shift was underway, as ...