by June Ann D'Angelo

RIP - Mary Doyle Keefe (Rosie the Riveter)

although many will use the wrong image today, Americans and women can all stand up and salute the iconic Rockwell painting of Rosie the Riveter that crashed the cover of the Saturday Evening Post on May 29, 1943! in my opinion, this image has stood the test of time and remains at the forefront because of it's ties to this nation's history. at the time, Mary Doyle Keefe was only 19 years old and working as a telephone operator and actually rather petite and has said that Rockwell took certain liberty to beef her up in the actual painting to embody the females that would break through stereotypical gender roles. when she received $10 for 2 days of modeling in Vermont (which would be roughly $138.94 in 2015 based on an annual inflation of 3.72% and a total inflation of 1289.42%), i wonder if she had any clue that her likeness would become the stamp of the women's rights movement?

thank you for stepping out and going against the grain to embody a woman that the time did not know yet. you paved the way for women to be individuals and i thank you so much from the bottom of my boxers!