Poster, Women in the War: We Can’t Win Without Them, 1942 War Manpower Commission–U.S. Government Printing Office Commercial color lithograph (40 x 28") 1993.1.6 "Women must be induced to change their customary life pattern of school, a few years of work, marriage and children. Some must remain in jobs, others must go to work." As increasing numbers of men joined the armed forces, vital manufacturing jobs were left empty. Campaigns were conducted by the U. S. Government to convince women to support the war effort by leaving their homes to work in the factories. Posters such as this were strong, positive calls to action that were printed in the thousands and placed in every conceivable public locale from hospitals to banks. The woman here uses an electric rivet gun to make a bomb casing. The number of working women rose from 18.2 million in 1940 to 23 million by 1944. However vital their efforts, women were paid 60% less than their male counterparts and had little job security. They often faced harassment from their male co-workers. After the war, similar campaigns were launched prompting women to leave their jobs and return home in order to make room for the returning war veterans. Back to Political Propaganda Main Back to Collections Main