Rosie the Riveter: Real-Life Inspiration for Iconic WW2 ‘We Can Do It!’ Poster Dies at 86

Posted on December 30, 2010 at 4:03pm by Meredith Jessup
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Her familiar determined image inspired millions of women to heed the call to enter the workforce during World War II, and her empowering message continues to motivate young girls to live up to their full potential today.

Geraldine Hoff Doyle is not a name many may remember. But her portrait as a young woman dressed in a factory uniform and red polka-dot head kerchief, arm flexed to show off her feminine muscle and bold declaration of “We can do it!” continues to live on even as Doyle passed away this week at age 86 in Michigan.

During the war, Doyle joined 6 million other women in contributing to the war effort and her image, representative of these “Rosie the Riveter” women — named after a Norman Rockwell painting of the same name — continued to inspire women long after the war ended. As the New York Daily News reports, women‘s rights advocates of the 1960s and 1970s adopted Doyle’s iconic image, an instant classic.

“She would say that she was the ‘We Can Do It!’ girl,” her daughter Stephanie Gregg of Eaton Rapids, assistant dean of admissions for Cooley Law School, told the Lansing Journal in 2002 after the her mother was honored by the Michigan Historical Center and Hall of Fame.

“She never wanted to take anything away from the other Rosies,” she said.

During the war, Geraldine worked as a metal presser in an Ann Arbor, Mich., factory — one of the many jobs once only considered suitable for men.

It was during her time working in the factory that a wire photographer snapped her picture — an image graphic artist J. Howard Miller later used to make the war-time poster while he worked for the Westinghouse Company’s War Production Coordinating Committee.

Shortly after leaving her work at the factory, Geraldine met and married her husband, Leo Doyle. Together the couple had six children and ran a successful dental practice in Lansing. The two remained married until Leo died earlier this year.

“My dad died Feb. 28,” Gregg said. “My mom said, ‘I don’t know how I’ll live without him.’ “

Geraldine passed away Sunday at age 86. She is survived by five children, 18 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren.

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Comments (21)

uncleherbert
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 8:43pm
She must have been a teenager when I was born, may God bless her and her family
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Charbet
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:37pm
God bless you Rosie, you were an Inspiration to all of us, my condolences to your family.
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rubintheartist
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 6:11pm
Watch this animated movie that features our New American Heroine, Sarah Palin. http://wwwmarcrubin.com/Hairmerica.ivnu
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justice
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 5:43pm
God bless this women. When my grandfather was in the navy, she was one of thousands of women who helped build aircraft. They are an inspiration to my generation.
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tobefreeinmt
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 5:25pm
After reading most of your comments, I have to say that this is one of the reasons that I love my country.
The people! Americans. I’m so proud to be one of you. America and her people (for the most part) are like none this world have ever seen. God bless all of you. (except Beckisnuts. Your just an A hole pal.)
OK! You too! Happy New Year.
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tobefreeinmt
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 5:15pm
We’ll miss you Rosie! Really. But we will never ever forget you, and what you stood for, and how you helped to keep this country strong in one of her darkest hours.
RIP Rosie. Say Hi to Mom for me.
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rbqueen
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 5:15pm
RIP Rosie may your family feel peace.
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rbqueen
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 5:13pm
What we need is a few more women and men like her to thump some heads in DC. We can do it!
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Eblaze44
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 5:07pm
Yep, rest in peace.

her and her husbands life speak volumes about today’s society.
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SnapTie
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 5:04pm
They sure don’t make them like that anymore. RIP Rosie.
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pamela kay
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 4:52pm
God bless her and I wish we had more like her in todays society. Back then the people in this country were all willing to do their part. Rosie will be remembered for hers.
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- WhiteFang
  Posted on December 30, 2010 at 5:08pm
  Life is too short.
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- untameable-kate
  Posted on December 30, 2010 at 5:40pm
  Unfortunately our youth doesn’t seem to have any good popular heros to look up to. They see the instant fame and fortune of such as lady gaga and brittany spears and a handful of miscreants who have nothing to offer but obscenity and immorality. RIP Geraldine, you are remembered fondly.
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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 4:48pm
RIP Rosie.
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- Steverino
  Posted on December 30, 2010 at 5:08pm
  As certainly emblematic as anything from WWII, and our country’s “can do” attitude.
  We MUST get back to that “Old American” way of thinking.
  So sad that it is an “old” way of thinking. I am, however, cautiously optimistic about the future. Great thing lie ahead of all of us.
  Steve
  http://stephencharles-poppin-off.blogspot.com/
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- snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
  Posted on December 30, 2010 at 5:12pm
  So the generation of WW2 hero’s is passing on, now it is our turn to continue the good fight for the safety and liberty of the country. The next great hero will be easy to remember he or she will be the “American Citizen” who each and every one of us makes a difference.
  
  RIP Rosie, you may be gone, yet you are not forgotten.
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- CatB
  Posted on December 30, 2010 at 5:14pm
  RIP .. I grew up just south of where she lived and never knew the story behind the poster… Condolences to the family.
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- Steverino
  Posted on December 30, 2010 at 5:28pm
  Great thingS lie ahead of all of us.
  Sheesh. I should proofread a bit better. Sorry.
  Steve
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- clockn63
  Posted on December 30, 2010 at 5:29pm
  It truely is sad Steverino. Our youths way of thinking is mostly perverted due to games and lack of parenting. I too am optimistic, I have two kids that are great young adults and 8/28 gave me much optimism.
  
  Happy New Year Y’all
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- rubintheartist
  Posted on December 30, 2010 at 6:08pm
  Geraldine represents the very best part of our American can-do spirit. Today we have another Rosie whose name is Sarah Palin. I celebrate her as a hero with Glenn as her side kick in my new animated web movie “A Not Too Grimm Fairy Tale”. Today it will take humor to jump past progressive brainwashing. Sarah is the hero of the movie and dominates the2nd half. A new heroic American woman is with us now. http://www.marcrubin.com/Hairmerica.ivnu
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- Cobra Blue
  Posted on December 30, 2010 at 7:05pm
  The last generation. That generation was willing to fight for what they believed in. We just talk about what needs to be done and expect someone else to do it i.e. a politician. Can’t get there from here.
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