We Can Do It!

“We can do it!” a famous slogan associated with the 1940′s. More specifically, Rosie the Riveter, an American cultural symbol for women during WWII.

What was it that made her famous? The answer comes from wikipedia (the lazy person’s history book).

Rose Will Monroe, was born in Pulaski County, Kentucky in 1920 and moved to Michigan during World War II. She worked as a riveter at the Willow Run Aircraft Factory in Ypsilanti, Michigan, building B-29 and B-24 bombers for the U.S. Army Air Force.

…Although the image of “Rosie the Riveter” reflected the industrial work of welders and riveters during World War II, the majority of working women filled non-factory positions in every sector of the economy. What unified the experiences of these women was that they proved to themselves (and the country) that they could do a “man’s job” and could do it well.

“We can do it!” shouldn’t be reserved for the 40’s alone but rather continue as womanhood’s mantra today. Whether it be a 9-5 job or staying at home, working to our best abilities should be our aim.

A good friend sent me some pearls for my birthday saying, “Miss, you’re a modern day June Clever. It’s a good reminder that women can still put their “pearls” on to do housework.”

She knows I wear stilettos NOT pearls to vacuum! Her point being, it shouldn’t matter your day’s agenda but how you accomplish it.

Is our work done with dignity, integrity, and to our best abilities?

Each of us as women were born with innate capabilities that weren’t intended to sit dormant on a shelf collecting dust. We need to get in there and show what we’re made of.

Funny but true story…

On the way home from the war plane hanger, we headed to Costco. I thought about rubbing off my lipstick and taking down the “do”. But I didn’t. Instead, I got a LOT of looks mainly from the elderly. They were smiling, as if, remembering a better time.

Husby immediately picked up on it, “Babe, you’re bringing people back to the good ‘ole days.”

That sparked conversation…

“Not gonna lie. Your hair’s pretty hot. Why do you think women did so many crazy things like that with their hair back then? And the lips are old school all the way.”

My thoughts flashed back to the fashion from that era. Modest. Modest in a very tailored, feminine, and classy way.

I answered, “Hair and makeup were used instead of cleavage & bare skin. It was their way of expressing womanhood in a beautifully modest way. Men still thought they were attractive without revealing too much. Fun hair & makeup was their way of being sexy without being immodest.”

To see what’s happened to womanhood today can be disheartening at times. It seems as if men don’t have to work as hard to gain a woman’s affection. However, women have the power to influence men’s behavior by demanding respect through higher standards.

Girls, little girls, grow up to think pretty is push-up bras & too short everythings! It’s blasted everywhere: commercials, store fronts, music… yada yada. Halloween? Need I say more? But it’s not them to blame. It’s what they’ve been taught directly or indirectly.

So women?

We can do it!

A two-fold message: 1) Do our jobs (either corporate or at home) to our fullest potential. And 2) Uphold higher standards of what womanhood used to be, ought to be, and needs to be in order to teach our little girls that they can do it too!

I know we can.
 

• Credits:
• Photography – c/o Brandy Cardarelli Photography
• Leggings, Stripe Top, Chain Link Bracelet – Juicy Couture
• Boots – Me Too
• Military Jacket – F21