American Experience (1988–…): Season 1, Episode 5 - The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter - full transcript
- ♪ WHILE OTHER GIRLS ATTEND
THEIR FAVORITE COCKTAIL BAR ♪
♪ SIPPING DRY MARTINIS,
MUNCHING CAVIAR ♪
♪ THERE'S A GIRL WHO'S REALLY
PUTTING THEM TO SHAME ♪
♪ ROSIE IS HER NAME ♪
♪ ALL THE DAY LONG
WHETHER RAIN OR SHINE ♪
♪ SHE'S A PART
OF THE ASSEMBLY LINE ♪
♪ SHE'S MAKING HISTORY ♪
♪ WORKING FOR VICTORY ♪
♪ ROSIE,
RRRRR, THE RIVETER ♪
♪ KEEPS A SHARP LOOK OUT
FOR SABOTAGE ♪
♪ SITTING UP THERE
ON THE FUSELAGE ♪
♪ THAT LITTLE FRAIL CAN DO
MORE THAN A MALE CAN DO ♪
♪ ROSIE, RRRRR,
THE RIVETER ♪
♪ ROSIE'S GOT A BOYFRIEND,
CHARLIE ♪
♪ CHARLIE, HE'S A MARINE ♪
♪ ROSIE IS PROTECTING CHARLIE ♪
♪ WORKING OVERTIME
ON THE RIVETING MACHINE ♪
♪ WHEN THEY GAVE HER
A PRODUCTION E ♪
♪ SHE WAS AS PROUD
AS A GIRL COULD BE ♪
♪ THERE'S SOMETHING TRUE ABOUT ♪
♪ RED, WHITE, AND BLUE ABOUT ♪
♪ ROSIE, ROSIE, ROSIE ♪
♪ ROSIE, ROSIE,
ROSIE ♪
♪ THE RIVETER ♪
- THE VERY FIRST JOB
I EVER HAD WAS
IN A NOVELTY FACTORY.
THEY MADE PARTY GOODS...
PARTY HATS, NOISEMAKERS,
THESE THINGS THAT KIDS BLOW
THAT HAS A FEATHER AT THE END,
ROLLS UP...
I FORGOT WHAT THEY CALL THEM.
I WAS STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL.
TIMES WERE VERY BAD,
AND I WAS VERY STRUCK
BY THE BRIGHT COLORS
AND TINSELLY THINGS
THAT WE WERE WORKING WITH
AND THE SADNESS
ON THE FACES OF THE PEOPLE
WHO WERE DOING IT.
IT WAS SO BORING.
IT WAS SO JUST, YOU KNOW,
ONE SORT OF... ONE MOVEMENT
ALL THE TIME.
PASTE, STAPLE,
PUT IT DOWN,
STAPLE, DO IT,
STAPLES,
DO IT, STAPLE.
144, AND YOU'VE MADE A DIME.
- WE LIVED IN...
OH, MY GOODNESS,
I GUESS YOU WOULD CALL IT SLUMS.
WE COULDN'T AFFORD ELECTRICITY
BECAUSE OF THE DEPRESSION.
WE USED OIL LAMPS,
KEROSENE OIL LAMPS,
AND OUR VARIETY OF DIET
CONSISTED OF A DIFFERENT BEAN
EVERY DAY.
ONE DAY, YOU WOULD HAVE
WHITE BEANS.
THE NEXT DAY, PINTO BEANS.
THE NEXT DAY,
BLACK-EYED PEAS.
I DID WORK... WHAT WE CALL
A PRIVATE FAMILY,
LIKE, FOR A DOLLAR A DAY.
WE WERE CALLED
KITCHEN MECHANICS,
AND WE GOT THURSDAY OFF
AND EVERY OTHER SUNDAY MAYBE
IF WE WERE VERY GOOD.
- WHEN I MET MY HUSBAND,
WHEN I WAS DATING HIM,
I WAS ONLY 14 WHEN I MET HIM.
AND I THOUGHT IT WAS DATING,
BUT I GUESS IT REALLY WASN'T.
BUT I WAS RIDING AROUND
IN HIS CAR,
AND IT WAS...
IT SEEMED LIKE DATING TO ME.
AND HE HAD A JOB
AT OLDSMOBILE,
AND I THOUGHT HE WAS RICH
BECAUSE THERE WAS NO BLACK MEN
IN OLDSMOBILE.
HE SAID IF I WOULD MARRY HIM,
YOU KNOW, I COULD DRIVE A CAR.
WE NEVER HAD A CAR,
AND THIS WAS REALLY SOMETHING.
I WOULD HAVE MARRIED HIM
ON THAT ALONE.
MY MOTHER'S FRIENDS,
THEY WERE ALL DOING HOUSEWORK
OR WORKING IN RESTAURANTS.
AND, WELL, THAT WAS JUST
ABOUT ALL THAT WAS OPEN TO THEM.
NOW MY MOTHER WAS FORTUNATE.
SHE GOT A JOB IN A HOTEL.
IT WAS THE OLD OLDS HOTEL
AT THAT TIME.
IT'S JACK TAR NOW I THINK.
BUT THERE TOO
SHE WAS JUST MAKING THE BEDS...
SHE WAS A CHAMBERMAID.
THAT'S WHAT THEY CALLED IT
AT THAT TIME.
AND I JUST DIDN'T WANT
ANY OF THOSE JOBS.
- WE RAISED CORN AND CANE.
AND WE'D TOP THE CANE
AND STRIP IT
AND RUN IT
THROUGH A MOLASSES MILL.
WE MADE MOLASSES.
AND WE RAISED... EVERYTHING WE ATE
CAME OFF OF THAT FARM.
BUT MY HUSBAND DIED,
MY MOTHER-IN-LAW,
THE FARM BELONGED TO HER,
AND SHE SOLD IT.
AND I HITCHED UP MY TEAM
AND MY WAGON,
MADE A COVERED WAGON, AND DROVE
FROM 90 MILES NORTHEAST
OF ST. LOUIS TO SPRINGFIELD.
MY MOTHER LIVED IN SPRINGFIELD.
I THOUGHT, OH, LORD,
WHAT'LL I DO NOW?
SAW THAT WOMAN SPADING
THAT BIG GARDEN,
AND I WENT OVER THERE,
AND I SAID,
"I HAVE A TEAM AND A PLOW.
I'LL PLOW IT FOR YOU."
TIME I GOT HERS PLOWED,
HERE COME A MAN
UP TO ME, AND HE SAID,
"LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE DOING
A PRETTY GOOD JOB THERE,"
AND I SAID, "WELL,"
AND HE SAID, "I HAVE SIX ACRES
OF NEW GROUND OUT HERE
I'D LIKE TO HAVE PLOWED."
AND WANTED TO KNOW
IF I COULD DO IT, YOU KNOW,
AND I SAID, "SURE CAN.
I'LL BE OUT THERE DAYLIGHT
IN THE MORNING."
SO I GOT OUT THERE DAYLIGHT
IN THE MORNING
BEFORE HE DID,
AND I HAD PLOWED ONE FURROW.
AND HE WAS WAITING UP THERE
AT THE END
TILL I GOT THERE, AND HE SAID,
"LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE DOING
A PRETTY GOOD JOB THERE."
AND I SAID,
"THANK YOU."
HE LOOKED AT ME, AND HE SAID,
"ARE YOU A WOMAN?"
AND I SAID,
"YES, I AM. WHY?"
AND HE SAID, "WELL, IF I'D KNOWN
YOU WAS A WOMAN,
"I WOULDN'T HAVE HIRED YOU.
I THOUGHT YOU WAS
A BIG COUNTRY BOY."
HE SAID,
"THIS IS HARD PLOWING.
THIS IS NEW GROUND."
I SAYS, "I KNOW IT.
AND YOU JUST SAID
I WAS DOING A GOOD JOB OF IT."
AND HE SAID, "WELL, IF YOU THINK
YOU CAN DO IT, GO RIGHT AHEAD."
AND I PLOWED THAT SIX ACRES
OF NEW GROUND.
I GOT A GOOD PIECE OF MONEY
FOR THAT.
- I WAS WORKING IN A JOB
DOING HOUSEWORK,
BUT IT WAS SORT OF A DIFFERENT
KIND OF HOUSEWORK.
YOU WERE TREATED
MORE LIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY,
AND I REALLY LIKED IT THERE.
AND THEY HAD TWO CHILDREN.
BUT ONE DAY SHE CALLED ME
AND TOLD ME
TO COME LISTEN TO THE RADIO.
- WE INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM
TO BRING YOU
A SPECIAL NEWS BULLETIN.
THE JAPANESE HAVE ATTACKED
PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, BY AIR,
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
HAS JUST ANNOUNCED.
- DECEMBER 7, 1941,
A DATE
WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
WAS SUDDENLY AND DELIBERATELY
ATTACKED
BY NAVAL AND AIR FORCES
OF THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN.
WITH CONFIDENCE
IN OUR ARMED FORCES,
WITH THE UNBOUNDING
DETERMINATION
OF OUR PEOPLE,
WE WILL GAIN
THE INEVITABLE TRIUMPH,
SO HELP US GOD.
♪ ♪
- THE BATTLEFIELDS OF AMERICA
ARE THE PRODUCTION LINES...
THE SWEAT AND MUSCLE
AND BRAINS OF MEN
POUNDING OUT THE TOOLS
OF VICTORY,
SLUGGING OUT MORE
AND MORE AND MORE.
A MIGHTY INDUSTRIAL PROGRAM
MOVING FASTER AND FASTER.
LABOR SUPPLY TO MATCH IT,
LAGGING BEHIND.
MEN DESIGNATING THEMSELVES
AN EMERGENCY COMMITTEE.
REPRESENTATIVES OF GOVERNMENT.
LEADING INDUSTRIALISTS.
THEY WERE DETERMINED
NO WOMAN SHOULD CASH A CHECK,
BOARD A BUS, SEE A MOVIE,
OR WALK DOWN THE STREET
WITHOUT GETTING ACQUAINTED
WITH THE IDEA
THAT SHE WAS NEEDED.
A WOMEN'S COMMITTEE
WALKED THE STREETS
AND KNOCKED ON THE DOORS.
THREE WOMEN ON YOUR BLOCK
SAY THEY'D GET A WAR JOB
IF THEIR NEIGHBOR DID.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
- SOMEBODY HAD WRITTEN ME
THE LETTER
FROM OUT HERE IN CALIFORNIA
AND SAID I COULD MAKE MORE
WORKING OUT HERE
IN A DAY THAN I COULD
IN A WEEK BACK THERE.
SO...
- SO WHAT'D YOU DO?
WELL, I TOLD THE WOMAN ABOUT IT
THAT'S SETTING
AT THE MACHINE NEXT TO ME,
AND SHE SAID, "IF YOU WANT TO GO
TO CALIFORNIA WITH ME,
YOU CAN BE READY
AT 6:00 THIS EVENING."
I REALLY GOT A MOVE ON.
- WHEN FACTORY WORK OPENED UP,
IT WAS LIKE A GODSEND
BECAUSE THERE YOU WAS EARNING
PRETTY GOOD MONEY.
AND MY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER...
I REMEMBER IT FROM HEART
ALMOST FROM THE FIRST DAY,
366-24-9339,
I THOUGHT THAT WAS SO TERRIFIC
THAT I HAD
A SOCIAL SECURITY CARD.
AND I CARRIED IT AROUND
IN MY PURSE.
THEY SENT ME RIGHT OUT AS SOON
AS I GOT MY SOCIAL SECURITY CARD
TO A FACTORY.
- WE WERE GONNA GET IN
ON THE GROUND FLOOR
AND BE WELDERS FOREVER AND EVER.
AND THE WORK ON GLIDERS TOO
WAS VERY MUCH WHAT I WANTED
BECAUSE IT WAS ALMOST AN ART
AS WELL AS A SKILL.
IT WAS A VERY, VERY BEAUTIFUL
KIND OF WORK.
- IT TAKES HUMAN POWER TO KEEP
WAR FACTORIES GOING,
AND MUCH OF OUR MANPOWER
IS GOING TO WAR.
MORE AND MORE MEN ARE BEING
CALLED INTO THE ARMED FORCES.
THEIR JOBS MUST BE FILLED
AND FILLED NOW.
AND WHO CAN FILL THEM?
YOU.
YOU WOMEN.
YOU'RE THE ONES
WHO MUST FILL THEM,
WHO CAN GIVE OUR BOYS
WHAT THEY NEED.
IF YOU NEED TRAINING,
YOU CAN GET IT, AND IT'S FREE.
WE MUST WIN THIS WAR.
BUT WE CAN'T WIN THIS WAR
UNLESS YOU WOMEN
TAKE OVER THE JOBS
THAT MEN ARE LEAVING.
AND YOU'RE NEEDED RIGHT NOW.
- THEY SAID, "COME ON, WE CAN GO
AND GET IN THE SHIPYARDS."
AND SO WHEN I TRIED TO GET
INTO THE SHIPYARDS,
THEY TOLD ME I HAD
TO GO TO SCHOOL.
AND THEN I FOUND OUT
ABOUT SAMUEL GOMPERS,
AND I WENT TO SAMUEL GOMPERS
AND TOOK TRAINING
FOR A SHIPFITTER.
- MEN HAD BEEN TELLING US
ALL ALONG THE LINE THAT,
OH, IT TAKES SIX YEARS
TO BECOME A WELDER.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE AN APPRENTICE.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE THIS.
THEY HAD BEEN SOLD A BILL
OF GOODS IN THEIR LIVES.
YOU SEE,
IT WASN'T TRUE AT ALL.
IT JUST WORKED OUT
FOR BOSSES TO DO THAT.
ACTUALLY, IT COULD BE LEARNED
AND LEARNED WELL
IF IT WAS TAUGHT WELL
IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
- HE TOLD ME I'D PASSED 98%.
HE SAID,
"YOU'VE GOT GOOD GRADES.
YOU PASSED 98%."
YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT
A PERSON'S REALLY INTERESTED IN,
WELL, THEY MAKE BETTER GRADES
AT IT
THAN SOMETHING
THEY DON'T LIKE TO DO.
- IN THE SPRAWLING AIRCRAFT
FACTORIES ON THE WEST COAST,
TEAMS OF WOMEN FLUSH THE RIVETS
THAT HOLD TOGETHER THE ALUMINUM
SKIN ON THE WING OF A B-24.
THIS IS LIKE PUNCHING HOLES
IN A TIN OF SCOURING POWDER.
INSTEAD OF CUTTING OUT DRESSES,
THIS WOMAN STAMPS OUT
THE PATTERNS OF AIRPLANE PARTS.
THEY ARE TAKING TO WELDING
AS THOUGH THE WELDING ROD
WERE A NEEDLE AND THE METAL
A LENGTH OF CLOTH TO BE SEWN.
♪ ♪
AFTER A SHORT APPRENTICESHIP,
A WOMAN CAN OPERATE
THIS PRESS
AS EASILY AS A JUICE EXTRACTOR
IN HER OWN KITCHEN.
AND A LATHE WILL HOLD
NO MORE TERRORS FOR HER
THAN AN ELECTRIC
WASHING MACHINE.
- AND IT WASN'T ANY TIME
BEFORE WE GOT THE KNACK OF IT,
BECAUSE, FOR ONE THING,
WOMEN'S HANDS WEREN'T AS BIG
AND CLUMSY AS MEN.
WE HAD TO GRIND OUR OWN TOOLS.
SO THEREFORE IT WAS EASIER
FOR US TO KNOW
WHEN TO STOP GRINDING,
HOW TO TAKE THE MACHINE...
WE HAD, I DON'T KNOW,
MORE OF A SUBTLE TOUCH.
REALLY, WE DID BETTER
THAN THE MEN.
- THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING
TO MAKE IT EASY FOR YOU
UNLESS MAYBE YOU'D RUN
INTO ONE THAT WAS STUCK ON YOU
AND WANTED TO DATE YOU
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND THEN HE'D GO OUT OF HIS WAY
FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
IF IT DIDN'T WORK OUT,
WELL, YOU DIDN'T GET NO HELP
FROM HIM EITHER.
- THE MEN, YOU KNOW, HAD THE...
SOMETIMES THEY TREATED US
PRETTY BADLY BECAUSE, TO A MAN,
WHEN A WOMAN WALKED IN,
IT MEANT THAT A MAN WENT TO WAR.
AND EVEN THOUGH THE POPULATION
WAS VERY MUCH
IN FAVOR OF THE WAR,
ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS,
WHO THE HELL WANTS TO GO TO WAR?
- AS OUR ARMED FORCES GREW,
SO DID THEIR DEMANDS
FOR EQUIPMENT,
SUPPLIES, FOOD,
MATERIAL OF ALL KINDS.
THE NEED FOR WOMEN
GREW DESPERATE,
AND THOUSANDS OF WOMEN
ANSWERED THE CALL.
THE HIDDEN ARMY
DREW FRESH RECRUITS.
ITS RANKS GREW
TO NEARLY 18 MILLION.
MANY OF THESE WOMEN
CAME FROM WALKS OF LIFE
NOT PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED...
THE MOTHERS,
THE YOUNG, THE AGED.
WHEN THEY WERE ASKED
WHY THEY HAD JOINED THE RANKS
OF THE HIDDEN ARMY, THESE WOMEN
GAVE A VARIETY OF REASONS.
- MY HUSBAND'S A PRISONER
OF THE JAPS
IN THE PHILIPPINES.
IF HE'D HAD A FEW MORE
OF THESE SHELLS
OUT IN BATAAN,
MAYBE HE'D STILL BE FIGHTING.
- I'M AN OLD MAID,
AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE
UNTIL I TOOK THIS DEFENSE JOB.
NOW I HAVE A FAMILY
OF 10 MILLION TO LOOK AFTER.
- WHY DID I TAKE A DEFENSE JOB?
THAT'S A FUNNY QUESTION.
I NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT BEFORE.
DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A REASON?
WE'RE IN A JAM, AREN'T WE?
I'M SORRY,
BUT YOU'LL HAVE TO EXCUSE ME.
I'M TOO BUSY TO ANSWER
DAMN FOOL QUESTIONS LIKE THAT.
- SOMEHOW THAT ANSWER
PLEASED US.
NO SUDDEN EMOTIONAL URGE
SENT THIS YOUNG WOMAN
INTO WAR WORK,
NO LOSS OF A LOVED ONE,
NO TEMPORARY
ECONOMIC EMBARRASSMENT,
NO MERE YEARNING
FOR EXCITEMENT
OR NOVELTY.
THERE ARE MILLIONS LIKE HER.
THERE WILL HAVE TO BE.
- I KNEW I WAS A RIVETER,
'CAUSE, WITH ALL THIS TRAINING...
AND I REALLY SAID
THIS WAS REALLY GONNA
BE NICE...
BUT, WHEN THEY SENT ME IN THERE,
THEY SENT ME TO THE FOUNDRY.
3/4 OF THE WOMEN
THAT THEY SENT IN THERE
WERE BLACK,
SO THEY SENT
JUST ENOUGH WHITE WOMEN
TO SAY THAT WE DO HAVE
WHITE WOMEN HERE.
I EXPECTED TO SEE SOMETHING
LIKE I SAW
IN THAT TRAINING CENTER.
I EXPECTED TO SEE EVERYTHING ALL
SET UP TO GO TO START RIVETING.
I SAID, "WELL, THIS TRAINING
IS JUST WASTED THEN."
BUT IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM
TO BE ANYTHING
AT THAT TIME
THAT WE COULD DO ABOUT IT.
AND FOR ONCE I WAS EVEN AFRAID
TO SAY TOO MUCH
TO A COMMITTEEMAN.
I WAS LOOKING 'EM UP
AND FINDING OUT
WHO WAS COMMITTEEMEN
AND EVERYTHING,
BUT I SAID,
"WELL, I GUESS
I BETTER KIND OF..."
WELL, YOU TALK TO OTHER WOMEN
ABOUT IT,
AND THEY SAID, "WELL, WE BETTER
KEEP STILL FOR A WHILE.
AT LEAST WE'RE IN HERE."
- WE WENT TO MOORE'S SHIPYARD
TO BE SIGNED IN
BECAUSE THEY'D CALLED
AND SAID THEY NEEDED
FOUR FITTERS.
AND WHEN WE GOT THERE
THE SUPERINTENDENT
TOOK THE THREE WHITE PERSONS
THAT WAS WITH ME
AND LEFT ME SITTING OUTSIDE
AND CAME BACK ABOUT 45 MINUTES
AND SAID,
"NO, WE DON'T HAVE
ANY OPENINGS."
I SAID, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
"I WAS TOLD AT THE SCHOOL
YOU HAD FIVE OPENINGS,
"AND I WAS SENT HERE
AS THE PERSON
"IN CHARGE
OF ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE.
WHERE ARE THEY?"
"OH," HE SAID.
"WE FOUND PLACES FOR THEM."
IT WAS CLEAR THEY DIDN'T WANT
A BLACK WOMAN
IN THE ELITE TRADE
OF SHIPFITTING.
GOD, I WAS SO MAD,
I GOT UP AND I SAID,
"IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE OPEN?"
AND THEY SAID, YES,
THEY HAD WELDERS
AND BURNER JOBS OPEN.
AND THE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS,
"WELL, YOU HAVE TO GO BACK
TO SCHOOL TO LEARN TO BURN."
AND I SAID, "NO, I DON'T.
YOU JUST GIVE ME A TEST
AND SEE IF I CAN BURN."
I GOT TO THE INSTRUCTOR
WHO HAD ALL THIS EQUIPMENT,
HE SAYS, "WELL, HERE'S
A NICE, THICK PIECE OF STEEL.
BEVEL IT."
AND I SAID, "OKAY."
SO KNOWING THAT I WOULD TELL
THE BURNER TO MAKE SURE
IT WAS GOOD AND HOT BEFORE
HE STARTED TO CUTTING HIS.
I STARTED TO GETTING IT HOT.
HE SAID, "NEVER MIND.
NEVER MIND.
I SEE YOU KNOW YOUR BUSINESS."
AND THEN HE GAVE ME
A PIECE TO CUT OUT
WITH A LOT OF DESIGNS ON IT,
AND I GOT MYSELF DOWN
LIKE I'D SEEN
THE BURNERS DO ONCE THEY'RE
GETTING READY TO START CUT.
AND HE SAID,
"NEVER MIND. YOU'LL DO.
I'LL SEND YOU IN
AS A FIRST STAGE BURNER."
AND I SAID, "OKAY."
AND HE SAYS, "YOU'LL BE MAKING
$1.05 AN HOUR."
IF I HAD GONE IN
AS A SHIPFITTER'S HELPER,
I WOULD HAVE BEEN ONLY MAKING
.85, SO I WAS DELIGHTED.
HERE I WAS MAKING MORE MONEY
IN FIVE MINUTES
THAN ALL THE REST OF THEM
WERE MAKING
WHEN THEY WENT IN AS HELPERS.
SO THAT'S HOW I GOT
INTO THE SHIPYARD.
AND I BECAME THE ONLY WOMAN
EVER TO MAKE SHELL BURNER
AT MOORE'S SHIPYARD.
- ♪ EVERYONE STOPS TO ADMIRE
THE SCENE ♪
♪ ROSIE AT WORK ON THE B-19 ♪
- ♪ SHE'S NEVER TWITTERY ♪
♪ NERVOUS OR JITTERY ♪
- ♪ ROSIE, ROSIE,
THE RIVETER ♪
♪ WHAT IF SHE'S SMEARED
FULL OF OIL AND GREASE? ♪
♪ DOING HER BIT
FOR THE OLD LEND-LEASE ♪
♪ SHE KEEPS THE GANG AROUND ♪
♪ THEY LOVE TO HANG AROUND ♪
♪ ROSIE, ROSIE,
THE RIVETER ♪
- ♪ ROSIE BUYS A LOT
OF WAR BONDS ♪
♪ THAT GIRL REALLY HAS SENSE ♪
- ♪ AND WISHES
SHE COULD PURCHASE ♪
♪ MORE BONDS ♪
♪ PUTTING ALL HER CASH
IN THE NATIONAL DEFENSE ♪
- I HAD WORKED
ON THE DOUBLE BOTTOMS
CLEAR UP TO THE CROW'S NEST.
THERE'S ONLY ABOUT THREE FEET
YOU HAVE TO SET DOWN
IN THERE TO WORK
IN THE DOUBLE BOTTOMS,
AND YOU CAN'T WORK IN THERE
VERY LONG
BECAUSE IT GETS PRETTY WELL
FILLED UP WITH SMOKE,
AND THEN YOU HAVE TO GET OUT.
WELDED ON THE DECK
THE BIG SLABS OF IRON
THAT LAY ON THE DECK.
WELDED THOSE TOGETHER.
WELDING ON THE DECK
IS REALLY FUN.
I ENJOYED EVERY BIT OF IT.
- OH, IT WAS GOOD
TO WORK WITH PEOPLE.
IT'S SOMETHING
ABOUT THAT CAMARADERIE
THAT YOU REALLY NEED
ON A JOB.
IF THE JOB IS HARD
AND EVERYBODY'S WORKING HARD,
YOU DON'T MIND.
IT'S JUST THAT SHARING
AND ALL DOING IT TOGETHER.
- LUNCH HOUR WOULD FIND US
SPREAD OUT ON THE SIDEWALK,
WOMEN WELDERS
WITH OUR LITTLE OUTFITS,
AND USUALLY A QUART OF MILK
IN ONE HAND
AND A SALAMI SANDWICH
IN THE OTHER.
WORKERS FROM OTHER SHOPS
ON THE STREETS
WOULD LOOK AT US, AND WE
WOULD SAY WE WERE WELDERS,
AND WE WERE INTERLOPERS.
AND WE HAD A HAPPY ATTITUDE
TOWARD OUR WORK
THAT THEY, OF COURSE,
REALLY DID NOT HAVE,
BECAUSE THEY WERE IN THE MIDDLE
AND AT THE END OF THEIR STORIES,
AND WE THOUGHT WE WERE
AT THE BEGINNING.
- HERE IS THE OFFICE OF THE
SUPERVISOR OF WOMEN EMPLOYEES.
BUT ARE THEY DOING ALL RIGHT?
- BEYOND ANYTHING
ANYONE EVER DREAMED OF.
THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING
IN ALMOST EVERY DEPARTMENT
IN THE PLANT.
AND I DON'T MEAN JUST CLERKS
AND CHECKERS.
WE HAVE WOMEN ENGINEERS
AND OILERS IN THE BOILER ROOM,
WOMEN REPAIR EXPERTS.
WOMEN WORK
AT THE OIL MINES ABOVEGROUND,
ALONG THE UNLOADING DOCKS,
AND ON PRIVATE RAILROAD
TRACKS...
AND WOMEN SHIPBUILDERS.
THESE WOMEN ARE WORKING
AROUND THE CLOCK
AROUND THE CALENDAR.
THEY DO A MAN'S JOB,
AND THEY CAN DRAW A MAN'S PAY.
AND THEY'RE DOING IT SAFELY.
THEY'RE SAFER HERE
THAN IN THEIR OWN HOMES.
- WELL, I WAS WELDING,
AND THE PEOPLE UP ABOVE ME,
THEY WERE KNOCKING
SOME PIECES OF IRON DOWN,
AND I HOLLERED AND SAID,
"CUT THAT OUT."
FIRST THING I KNEW, A BIG PIECE
CAME DOWN AND HIT ME
ON THE BACK OF THE HEAD,
AND DOWN I WENT.
I WAS JUST HANGING
OVER THE BIG IRON PIPES
WHEN SOMEBODY COME IN THERE
AND GOT ME OFF
OF THE BIG IRON PIPES.
I WAS TAKEN OUT
IN THE BASKET.
AND I BARELY REMEMBERED...
I THOUGHT...
I KNEW I WAS IN THE BASKET.
THEY HAVE WHAT...
THEY CALL IT THE BASKET...
AND WAS TAKEN OUT
WITHOUT A CRANE.
YOU'RE WAY UP IN THE AIR,
ALL RIGHT.
THERE WAS ONE MAN
THAT GOT KILLED
RIGHT ABOUT 12 FEET OF ME
WHEN I WAS WELDING ON THE DECK.
A BIG IRON...
WHAT DID THEY CALL THOSE?
STANDARDS OR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT.
ANYWAY, A BIG COLUMN OF IRON
FELL OVER
AND JUST MASHED HIM FLAT
INSTANTLY.
- THIS WAS A JOB...
IT WAS AN AMMUNITION PLACE
WHERE YOU HAD TO SIFT GUNPOWDER
AND STUFF.
YOU HAD TO HAVE SHOES.
THEY GAVE YOU A LARGE INSURANCE.
YOU GOT A GREAT, BIG INSURANCE,
SOMETHING LIKE $10,000
OR SOMETHING.
YOU HAD TO GO AND GET OUTFITTED
FOR IT.
FOR INSTANCE,
THE SHOES HAD TO BE GROUNDED,
AND THEY WOULDN'T GIVE US
THE SHOES ON CREDIT,
SO THEY LET US WORK
WITHOUT THE SHOES.
IF I HAD BEEN OLDER,
I WOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN THE JOB,
BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE KNOWN
IT WAS DANGEROUS.
BECAUSE ONE OF THE GIRLS...
YOU COULDN'T WEAR SLIPS...
A SLIP OR SILK STOCKINGS.
WOMEN WORE SILK STOCKINGS
IN THOSE DAYS
INSTEAD OF NYLONS
UNTIL, YOU KNOW,
THEY ALL GOT AWAY FROM US,
YOU KNOW, DURING THE WAR.
THEN WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY.
BUT SHE WENT IN WITH A HAIRPIN
IN HER HAIR ONE DAY
AND IT CREATED A SPARK
AND SHE AND HER PARTNER
BLEW UP TO SMITHEREENS.
THAT'S WHEN I SAID,
"WELL, FORGET THIS JOB.
I'M NOT GONNA WORK HERE
ANYMORE."
SO I QUIT THAT.
IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS.
- KOFSKY,
THIS SHOP ON 6TH AVENUE,
WASN'T WHAT I WAS DREAMING OF.
I HAD WANTED TO WORK
IN SOME BIG AIRCRAFT PLANT
LIKE WE WERE BEGINNING
TO SEE IN THE MOVIES.
AND KOFSKY SHOP, WELL,
IT WAS AN OLD DIVE
ON 6TH AVENUE
AND 21ST STREET.
WE WERE VERY GOOD PRODUCERS,
BUT WE WERE EARNING FAR LESS
THAN THE MEN,
BUT WE'RE DOING THE SAME WORK.
WE CERTAINLY WANTED
TO HELP THE WAR EFFORT.
ALL OF US WERE VERY INVOLVED
IN THOSE FEELINGS.
NO ONE OF US CAME FROM A FAMILY
THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF US.
WE HAD TO EARN A LIVING,
AND WE WERE NOT DOING SO.
ONE OF THE WOMEN,
BLANCHE AND I WENT DOWN
TO UNITED ELECTRICAL WORKERS
UNION.
WE STARTED
TO WEAR UNION BUTTONS,
AND MR. KOFSKY'S FACE CHANGED,
HE DIDN'T LIKE US ANYMORE.
WE WERE NO LONGER HIS GIRLS.
HE DIDN'T LIKE US.
AND HE HAD A FOREMAN EMIL
WHO FELT PERSONALLY INSULTED
BY OUR UNION BUTTONS
BECAUSE HE SAYS
THAT HE WAS GOOD TO US.
AND HE WAS GOOD TO US.
IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
IT TOOK A FEW WEEKS,
WE GOT UNION CARDS SIGNED,
WE CAME TO WORK ONE MORNING,
DOOR WAS LOCKED.
WE COULDN'T COME IN.
WE WERE LOCKED OUT.
INTERESTING SIDELIGHT.
WE HAD SOME BLACK WOMEN WORKERS
WITH US.
THEY HAD NEVER BEFORE TOLD US,
BUT ONLY WHEN WE WERE ORGANIZING
IN THE UNION
DID WE FIND OUT THAT THEY WERE
PAID 5¢ LESS PER HOUR
THAN THE WHITE WORKERS
HAD BEEN PAID.
TALK ABOUT CHEAP.
SO THELMA, OUR UNION ORGANIZER,
CAME ALONG.
SHE CALLED NEWSPAPERS,
AND THEY CAME WITH CAMERAS.
THE UNION FILED A COMPLAINT
AT THE NATIONAL
LABOR RELATIONS BOARD,
SAYING THAT WE WANTED
TO WORK,
WE WERE WORKING
FOR THE WAR EFFORT,
AND HE WOULDN'T PERMIT US
TO WORK,
HIS ATTITUDE HAD CHANGED
SINCE THE UNION.
AND OF COURSE HE SAID
WE WERE NO GOOD,
WE WERE UNSKILLED, WE DIDN'T
KNOW WHAT WE WERE DOING,
WE WERE ONLY GOOD, AS HE SAID,
FOR "BEING MARRIED
AND HAVING BABIES."
THAT'S ALL WE WERE GOOD FOR.
WELL, WE WENT
TO THE LABOR RELATIONS BOARD,
AND THEY RULED IN OUR FAVOR.
AND WE WERE MEMBERS
OF THE ELECTRICAL WORKERS UNION,
AND THE CHANGE IN OUR MONEY
WAS FANTASTIC.
I CAN'T RECALL NOW,
BUT IT WENT...
IT WAS ABOUT AN 80% RAISE.
- OH, IT MADE A GREAT CHANGE.
I THINK IT MADE CHANGES
IN EVERYBODY'S LIVES,
'CAUSE WE WEREN'T USED
TO MAKING THE MONEY
THAT WE WERE MAKING THEN.
YOU'D THINK YOU'D MAKE MORE
IN A DAY
THAN YOU USED TO MAKE
ALL WEEK.
OH, YOU JUST BOUGHT EVERYTHING,
AND IT JUST NEVER DAWNED ON YOU
TO SAVE MONEY.
IT DIDN'T TO ME.
A LOT OF 'EM DID.
SOME OF THEM
SAID THEY SAVED THEIR MONEY
JUST LIKE EVERYTHING.
AND SOMEBODY WOULD TELL ME,
YOU KNOW,
YOU BETTER SAVE THAT MONEY,
'CAUSE AFTER THE WAR
YOU CAN BUY A HOUSE,
YOU CAN BUY THIS,
YOU CAN BUY THAT.
I SAID... I'D ALWAYS SAY,
"QUIT TELLING ME
HOW TO SPEND MY MONEY."
I WAS BUYING FOX FURS
AND ALL THESE...
I WAS JUST BUYING
ANYTHING I COULD SEE.
♪ ♪
- ♪ HAVE YOU HEARD
THAT MINNIE'S IN THE MONEY ♪
♪ TAKE MY WORD
THAT MINNIE'S IN THE MONEY ♪
♪ SHE HASN'T GOT A GUY ♪
♪ WHO'S GOT A DIAMOND MINE ♪
♪ BUT SHE'S A WELDER
ON THE OLD ASSEMBLY LINE ♪
♪ SO BLESS HER, SIR ♪
♪ MINNIE'S IN THE MONEY ♪
♪ MINNIE'S IN THE MONEY ♪
♪ THAT'S FINE ♪
♪ SHE'S HELPING UNCLE SAM ♪
♪ TO KEEP HIS PEOPLE FREE ♪
♪ SHE'S OKAY, HOORAY ♪
♪ MINNIE'S IN THE DOUGH-RE-MI ♪
- WHEN I WORKED AT LOCKHEED
OR ANY OF THE FACTORIES,
I WORKED AN EIGHT-HOUR SHIFT.
IF THEY ASKED ME
TO WORK OVERTIME,
I GOT PAID FOR OVERTIME.
SO IT WAS... IT WAS
A BIG DIFFERENCE THERE.
IT WOULD GET BORING AT TIMES,
BUT ALL IN ALL
I WAS DOING
THE SAME WORK
THAT OTHER PEOPLE WAS DOING.
AND THEN IF THINGS
DIDN'T WORK RIGHT,
I COULD ALWAYS GO
TO THE UNION.
WHO COULD I GO TO
DOING DOMESTIC WORK?
THERE WAS NO UNION THERE
TO GO TO.
I EITHER HAD TO JUST QUIT,
PACK UP AND LEAVE,
OR WHATEVER,
BUT I DID HAVE SOME SAY-SO
AT A JOB IN THE FACTORY.
AND THERE WAS
ANOTHER DIFFERENCE TOO.
INSTEAD OF WORKING ALONE
ALL THE TIME,
LIKE YOU DO IN DOMESTIC WORK,
'CAUSE YOU'RE IN THE KITCHEN
OR WHEREVER YOU WERE AT
BY YOURSELF,
I WAS ALWAYS WITH A BUNCH
OF OTHER WOMEN.
- MANY OF OUR GIRLS
HAVE NEVER WORKED BEFORE
OUTSIDE THEIR OWN HOMES.
WE HAVE THE WIVES
OF COLLEGE PROFESSORS,
CLUB WOMEN, HOME GIRLS
WHO ARE DOING IT
AS THEIR PATRIOTIC DUTY.
ONE HAD HER OWN BEAUTY PARLOR.
THE OTHER WAS FORMERLY
A CIGARETTE GIRL
AT A NIGHTCLUB.
AND ROSITA MOSER,
WHO CLERKED IN ONE
OF THE COMPANY'S
FINEST DEPARTMENT STORES.
NOW SHE'S
IN OUR RECLAIMING DEPARTMENT.
- ISN'T THIS A FUNNY PLACE
FOR YOU?
- NOT IF IT HELPS WIN THE WAR.
- BUT AFTER CLERKING
IN A FASHIONABLE STORE...
- I LIKE IT HERE,
AND IT SAVES MY CLOTHES.
- YES, I SUPPOSE IT WOULD.
- DID YOU EVER TRY PLEASING
A BUNCH OF WOMEN SHOPPERS
ALL DAY?
- NO, I NEVER DID.
- WELL, HERE I JUST HAVE
TO PLEASE THE BOSS,
AND HE'S A MAN.
- OF COURSE WE'VE MADE
THE PLANTS ATTRACTIVE FOR THEM.
THE WOMEN HAVE
THEIR OWN LOCKERS
AND WASHUP ROOMS.
THEY COME OUT FROM WORK
LOOKING LIKE BUSINESS GIRLS
ON VACATION REALLY.
- WE WERE SURPRISED TO KNOW
THERE WAS A SHOWER IN THERE,
SO ONE OF THE BLACK WOMEN
WENT UP.
SO WHEN SHE WENT UP THERE
TO TAKE A SHOWER,
SHE SAYS,
"WELL, I'M GOING UP THERE,"
AND WE SAID, "OKAY, WE'LL BE UP
A LITTLE LATER."
SO THE NEXT THING WE KNOW
IS A WHOLE LOT OF CONFUSION.
WE GOT UP THERE
AND THE MATRON WAS UP THERE
AND TELLING HER TO COME OUT OF
THERE AND GET OUT OF THERE FAST.
AND SHE SAYS, "WHY?"
AND SHE SAYS,
"YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED
TO BE IN THERE."
AND SHE SAYS,
"THOSE OTHER WOMEN
ARE IN THERE TAKING A SHOWER."
SHE SAYS, "WELL, I DON'T CARE
WHO'S IN THERE.
YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED
TO BE IN THERE."
AND SHE SAID, "IF YOU DON'T
COME OUT, WE'LL GET THE GUARD."
SO WE TRIED TO TALK HER OUT.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO SEE HER
LOSE HER JOB.
AND SHE SAID,
"NO, I'M NOT COMING OUT."
SHE SAYS, "LONG AS THEY GOT
SHOWERS IN HERE,
AND THOSE WOMEN ARE USING 'EM,
I'M USING 'EM TOO."
SO THEY CLOSED THE SHOWERS DOWN.
AND SO THEN A LOT OF 'EM DECIDED
NOT TO WORK WITH US PERIOD.
SO THE UNION STEWARD
SENT TO LOCAL 600,
AND THEY SENT
A REPRESENTATIVE.
HE ASKED 'EM
WHAT WAS THE MATTER.
WELL, THEY DIDN'T WANT
TO TALK TO HIM
BECAUSE HE WAS BLACK,
AND THEY WAS WAITING
FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO COME.
HE SAYS, "I'M ALL
THAT'S GONNA BE HERE.
SO ALL I WANT TO KNOW
IS WHAT'S WRONG."
AND THEY SAID, "WE'RE NOT GONNA
WORK WITH THOSE WOMEN."
HE SAID, "WHAT WOMEN?"
AND THEY SAID... WELL,
THEY DIDN'T SAY BLACK THEN.
THEY SAID,
"WELL, THOSE COLORED WOMEN."
AND HE SAYS,
"WHY DON'T YOU WANT
TO WORK
WITH THOSE COLORED WOMEN?"
AND THEY SAID,
"WE JUST DON'T WANT TO."
HE SAID,
"WELL, DO YOU WANT THE JOBS?"
THEY SAID,
"YEAH, WE WANT THE JOBS."
HE SAYS,
"OKAY, THEN YOU GO TO WORK.
"IF YOU DON'T WANT THE JOBS,
JUST TURN IN YOUR TIME.
"THAT'S ALL YOU CAN DO.
WE'LL GET SOMEBODY THAT DOES
WANT TO WORK WITH THEM."
SO AFTER THAT, WELL,
THEY WENT ON BACK TO WORK.
THEY EVENTUALLY GOT OVER IT,
SO WE STARTED WORKING
AFTER THAT.
COURSE, AFTER WE WORKED A WHILE
AND GOT USED TO EACH OTHER,
THEN WE'D LAUGH
ABOUT THOSE THINGS.
♪ ♪
- ♪ THE DAY AFTER PAYDAY ♪
♪ IS NOT THE TIME
TO RELAX ♪
♪ STAY ON THE JOB ♪
♪ AND GIVE THE AXIS THE AX ♪
♪ TIME WON'T WAIT
FOR YOU AND ME ♪
♪ DON'T BE AN ABSENTEE ♪
♪ DON'T GO TO THE RACES ♪
♪ WHEN YOU KNOW
THAT YOUR PLACE IS ♪
♪ ON THE OLD ASSEMBLY LINE ♪
♪ NO TIME TO GO FISHIN' ♪
♪ WHEN WE NEED AMMUNITION ♪
♪ AND THE JOB IS YOURS
AND MINE ♪
♪ KEEP PUNCHING THE CLOCK ♪
♪ UNTIL YOU KNOCK OUT THE FOE ♪
♪ DON'T STAY AWAY
OR YOU'LL BE MISSING THE SHOW ♪
♪ IF YOU WANT
YOUR COUNTRY FREE ♪
♪ DON'T BE AN ABSENTEE ♪
- I NEEDED TO TAKE CARE
OF MY LAUNDRY.
I NEEDED TO DO...
HELP WITH THE HOUSEWORK
WHEN I GOT HOME.
I WAS LIVING
WITH MY HUSBAND'S MOTHER
AT THE TIME
AND VARIOUS OTHER RELATIVES.
WE WERE ALL SORT OF TOGETHER
FOR THE WAR.
AND THINGS HAD TO BE DONE,
AND THERE WAS NEVER ANY
UNDERSTANDING OR ANY RESPECT
REALLY GIVEN TO WOMEN
FOR THEIR LIFE
OUTSIDE OF THE WORKPLACE.
AND I ADMIT I MYSELF
NEVER EVEN GAVE MUCH THOUGHT
TO WOMEN WORKERS
WHO HAD CHILDREN.
HOW WERE THEY MANAGING?
- WHEN I CAME TO SAN FRANCISCO
TO WORK
AND WENT TO WORK
IN THE SHIPYARDS,
I HAD A LITTLE CHILD
THAT I HAD TO LEAVE BEHIND.
I HAD TO LEAVE HER
WITH MY MOTHER
BECAUSE UP HERE I DIDN'T THINK
I WOULD HAVE ANY PLACE
FOR HER TO STAY.
AND I WAS GOING
INTO A NEW COMMUNITY
IN A NEW TOWN,
AND I DIDN'T WANT TO BRING
MY CHILD WITH ME.
AND I LEFT HER WITH MY MOTHER,
AND IT WAS ONE
OF THE MOST AWFUL THINGS
I THINK I EVER DID
TO ANYBODY
BECAUSE EVEN TODAY
THAT CHILD HURTS
BECAUSE SHE FELT...
BECAUSE I PROMISED HER THAT,
GIVE ME ONE YEAR AWAY
AND I'LL COME BACK AND GET YOU,
AND THAT ONE YEAR STRETCHED
INTO TWO YEARS
AND FINALLY
INTO THREE YEARS
AND ENDED UP ALMOST FIVE YEARS
BEFORE I COULD GO BACK
AND GET HER.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT'S VERY BAD.
IF THERE HAD BEEN
ANY KIND OF CONDITIONS
UNDER WHICH I COULD HAVE BROUGHT
HER WITH ME,
I CERTAINLY
WOULD HAVE BROUGHT HER.
- BUT THE COMMUNITY
KNEW ABOUT THAT,
WAS PLANNING TO MEET THAT.
11 DAY NURSERIES,
MORE TO FOLLOW.
HERE, WOMEN CAN LEAVE
THEIR CHILDREN
WHILE THEY WORK,
CONFIDENT OF THE BEST OF CARE
IN THE MOST PLEASANT
OF SURROUNDINGS.
- I DON'T KNOW.
I NEVER HEARD OF ANY, YOU KNOW,
WHERE I COULD TAKE MY CHILDREN
ANYWAY.
THERE MOSTLY WERE PRIVATE ONES,
AND THEY WERE WAY OUT.
I'M SURE
THEY MUST HAVE HAD THEM.
I HAD TO PUT MY DAUGHTER
IN BOARDING SCHOOL,
AND THE OTHER ONE
WAS WITH HER DAD.
I'D ALWAYS HAD HER WITH ME.
AND TO HAVE TO SEND HER AWAY...
BUT I, YOU KNOW,
RAN INTO SO MANY BRICK WALLS,
YOU KNOW, KEEPING HER
IN PRIVATE HOMES AND EVERYTHING.
IF IT WASN'T ONE THING
THAT WAS HAPPENING,
IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE.
- MY KID WAS LITTLE.
AND SO I WORKED AT NIGHT.
AND SO I WOULD GET HOME
IN THE MORNING.
I DIDN'T HAVE A WASHING MACHINE,
SO I WASHED BY HAND,
HUNG THE CLOTHES ON THE LINE.
THEN I WOULD HAVE
TO CLEAN THE HOUSE,
BATHE THE BABY.
THEN I WOULD HAVE
TO GO SHOPPING.
- THERE WERE LOTS OF DISHES
EVERY NIGHT, POTS.
MY MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS NOT YOUNG.
I WOULD CERTAINLY NOT SEE HER
DO THE DISHES.
NOW MY BROTHER-IN-LAW
WHO WAS ALSO... HE WAS...
HE WORKED
AT THE BROOKLYN NAVY YARD.
AND I GUESS I JUST ACCEPTED IT...
AFTER DINNER HE WOULD
LIE DOWN ON THE COUCH
AND LISTEN TO JAZZ RECORDS,
AND I FELT THE NEED
TO PITCH IN IN THE KITCHEN.
- WHEN YOUR HUSBAND CAME HOME,
YOU KNOW, HE'D PROP HIS FEET UP
AND GOT A CAN OF BEER
WHILE YOU FIXED DINNER,
OR, EVEN IF WE WEREN'T WORKING
THE SAME SHIFTS,
YOU FIXED DINNER AND LEFT IT
WHERE IT WOULD BE CONVENIENT
FOR HIM TO GET.
THAT SORT OF THING.
SO IT WAS VERY HARD
FOR WOMEN TO REALLY PARTICIPATE
IN THE UNION MEETINGS.
- IT JUST GOT TOO MUCH,
AND I TRIED SO HARD
TO DO... MAKE THEM SEE
THAT TEN HOURS
WAS JUST TOO MUCH FOR ME.
I DIDN'T MIND DOING EIGHT
AND AN OCCASIONAL NINE,
BUT TEN WAS JUST TOO MUCH.
I JUST COULDN'T DO IT.
AND I WROTE GRIEVANCE
AFTER GRIEVANCE,
WHICH YOU JUST NEVER GET
ANYWHERE WITH IT.
- SOME WERE TOO TIRED
IN THE MORNING
TO FACE THE ASSEMBLY LINE
OR THE WORKBENCH.
SOME FOUND THAT DEFENSE WORK
INTERFERED WITH THEIR SHOPPING.
A FEW MEMBERS OF THE HIDDEN
ARMY, IT SEEMED,
HAD EARNED ENOUGH
FOR THE FUR COAT THEY COVETED
AND RETURNED
TO THEIR PREWAR EXISTENCE.
PERHAPS THE WAR NEWS
LOOKED SWELL
AND THE COMPULSION TO WORK
WAS DISSIPATED
IN THE CONFIDENT TALK OF VICTORY
JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
THE PAPERS REPORTED
A SLIGHT FALLING OFF
IN PRODUCTION.
THE KIDS NEEDED LOOKING AFTER,
AND THE HOUSE SOMEHOW
REFUSED TO RUN ITSELF
WHEN EIGHT HOURS A DAY
WERE SPENT AT THE PLANT.
BUT BY FAR
THE MOST COMMON REASON
WAS THAT WOMEN WERE
NOT ACCUSTOMED TO THE LONG HOURS
OF HARD WORK.
SHORTAGES APPEARED.
AMERICAN PLANES FOUND THEMSELVES
LACKING BEARING ASSEMBLIES.
OF A SUDDEN, THE WAR
WAS RIGHT IN THE AMERICAN HOME.
"THE GOVERNMENT REGRETS
TO INFORM..."
- NO.
NO.
- OUR WOMEN LEARNED...
LEARNED IN BITTER TEARS
AND HEARTACHE THAT IN WAR
THERE CAN BE NO SUCH THING
AS A SLIGHT FALLING OFF
IN PRODUCTION.
BECAUSE THERE'S NO SUCH THING
AS A SLIGHT DEATH.
- YOU KNOW, IF YOU EVEN TALKED
ABOUT THE UNION TOO MUCH,
YOU WERE KIND OF UNPATRIOTIC.
HOW DARE YOU TALK
ABOUT NOT WORKING OVERTIME
OR NOT DOING MORE
THAN YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO
WHEN OUR BOYS
WERE OVER THERE DYING FOR US?
YOU KNOW?
NOT FOR BUSINESS, BUT FOR US
THEY WERE DYING.
- ♪ ARMS FOR THE LOVE
OF AMERICA ♪
♪ WE'VE GOT TO GET
IN THE RACE ♪
♪ AND WORK AT A LIVELY PACE ♪
♪ THEY SAY OVER HERE
WE'VE NOTHING TO FEAR ♪
♪ BUT LET'S GET READY
JUST IN CASE ♪
♪ ARMS FOR THE LOVE OF AMERICA ♪
♪ AND FOR THE LOVE
OF EVERY MOTHER'S SON ♪
♪ OH, THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM ♪
♪ CAN BE LOST OR WON ♪
♪ BY THE MAN BEHIND THE MAN
BEHIND THE GUN ♪
♪ BY THE MAN
BEHIND THE MAN ♪
♪ BEHIND ♪
♪ THE GUN ♪
- I WAS WORKING
DOWN IN THE HOLE OF THE SHIP.
THERE WAS
ABOUT SIX FILIPINO MEN,
AND OVER THESE MEN WAS A
19-YEAR-OLD OFFICER OF THE SHIP.
AND THIS BIG WHITE GUY
WENT OVER AND STARTED TO KICK
THIS POOR FILIPINO.
AND NONE OF THE WHITE MEN
THAT WAS WORKING DOWN THERE
IN THE HOLE WITH ME
HAD SAID ONE WORD
TO THIS GUY,
AND I HAD SAT THERE,
AND I WAS GETTING MADDER
AND MADDER
AND MADDER
BY THE MINUTE.
I SPRANG TO MY FEET,
AND I TURNED ON MY TORCH,
AND I HAD A FLAME ABOUT SIX OR
SEVEN FEET OUT IN FRONT OF ME,
AND I WALKED UP TO HIM,
AND I SAID...
YOU WANT ME TO SAY
THE REAL LANGUAGE?
I SAID TO HIM, "YOU SO-AND-SO,
IF YOU GO... LIFT ONE MORE FOOT,
I'LL CUT YOUR GUTS OUT."
THAT WAS MY EXACT WORDS.
I WAS SO MAD WITH HIM.
AND THEN HE STARTS
TO TELL ME
THAT HE HAD BEEN TRAINED
IN BOOT CAMP
THAT ANY NATIONAL GROUP
WHO WAS DARK-SKINNED
WAS BENEATH ALL WHITE PEOPLE.
BUT HE STARTED TO CRY.
I BEGAN TO FEEL SORRY FOR HIM,
BECAUSE HE WAS CRYING,
HE WAS REALLY CRYING,
HE WAS SO FRIGHTENED.
AND I WAS FRIGHTENED.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING,
YOU KNOW.
BUT IN THE END
I TURNED MY TORCH OFF.
AND I SAT DOWN
ON THE STEPS WITH HIM.
ABOUT THAT TIME,
THE INTERCOM ON BOARD THE SHIP
STARTED TO ANNOUNCE,
"LYN CHILDS,
REPORT TO COLONEL HICKMAN
IMMEDIATELY."
SO I SAID,
"I GUESS THIS IS IT."
SO I WENT UP
TO COLONEL HICKMAN'S OFFICE.
AND BEHIND CAME ME
ALL OF THESE MEN,
THEY ALL LINED UP BEHIND...
AND I SAID,
"WHERE ARE YOU GUYS GOING?"
THEY SAID,
"WE'RE GOING WITH YOU."
HE SAYS, "I JUST WANTED
TO SEE LYN CHILDS."
AND THEY SAID,
"WELL, YOU SEE ALL OF US
"BECAUSE WE'RE ALL...
WE'RE ALL DOWN THERE.
"WE ALL DIDN'T HAVE GUTS ENOUGH
TO DO WHAT SHE DID,
AND WE'RE WITH HER."
SO HE SAID,
"COME INTO THIS OFFICE,"
AND HE CAME OUT AND HAD
ONE OF THE GUARDS
TAKE ME INSIDE THE OFFICE,
AND HE CLOSED THE DOOR REAL FAST
TO KEEP THEM OUT
AND HE SAYS,
"WHAT KIND OF COMMUNIST ACTIVITY
ARE YOU CARRYING ON
DOWN IN THE HOLE?"
AND I SAID, "COMMUNIST?
WHAT IS THAT?"
HE SAYS, "YOU KNOW
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
YOU'RE A COMM..."
I SAID, "WELL, IF COMMUNISTS
"OBJECT TO THE KIND OF TREATMENT
"THAT MAN WAS PUTTING
ON THOSE FILIPINOS
AND WOULD COME TO THEIR RESCUE,"
I SAID,
"THEN I AM THE BIGGEST COMMUNIST
YOU EVER SAW IN YOUR LIFE."
I SAID, "THAT IS GREAT.
I'M A COMMIE."
HE SAID,
"DON'T SAY THAT SO LOUD."
AND I SAID, "WELL, YOU ASKED ME
WAS I A COMMUNIST,
AND YOU'RE SAYING I AM,
AND I SAID... I'M AGREE..."
HE SAID, "SHH. HUSH"
HE SAID,
"DON'T SAY THAT SO LOUD."
HE SAYS, "I THINK YOU OUGHT
TO GET OUT OF HERE
AND GO BACK TO WORK,"
AND I SAID,
"WELL, YOU CALLED ME.
WHY DID YOU CALL ME?"
HE SAID, "WELL, NEVER MIND
WHAT I CALLED YOU FOR.
GO BACK TO WORK."
AND I HAD ALWAYS BEEN
ONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS
WHO FELT THAT I COULD HANDLE
MY OWN PROBLEMS MY OWN WAY
AND DO THINGS MYSELF.
I DIDN'T EVER ASK ANYBODY
TO DO ANYTHING
TO HELP ME OUT IN ANY WAY.
WELL, WHAT WAS THE RESULTS
OF GOING WITH ALL THOSE PEOPLE
GOING BEHIND ME
TAUGHT ME ONE THING...
THAT WHEN A BUNCH OF PEOPLE
COME WITH YOU,
THAT COULD MAKE A COLONEL SAY,
"HUSH, GET OUT OF HERE.
GO BACK TO WORK."
♪ ♪
OH, WHEN WE FINISHED
ONE OF THESE BEAUTIFUL SHIPS,
AND I REMEMBER THEM, TWO OF THEM
WENT DOWN THE WAY WITHOUT ME.
ONE OF THEM I RODE DOWN WITH IT.
IT WAS AN INSPIRING,
THRILLING THING.
HERE IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE DONE,
YOU'VE WORKED ON
AND, ONCE IT WENT DOWN
INTO THE WATER AND WITHSTOOD
THE TEST OF STAYING AFLOAT,
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE IT.
IT'S A THRILL.
YOUR WHOLE BODY
IS THRILLED FROM IT.
BECAUSE YOU'VE DONE SOMETHING
THAT'S WORTHWHILE.
- ONE NIGHT CLOSE TO CHRISTMAS,
WE WERE REALLY COLD,
IN SPITE OF WORKING
WITH THE TORCHES,
BECAUSE THE WIND WAS BLOWING
THROUGH THE BROKEN WINDOWS.
WE HAD... WE PUT STUFFED RAGS
INTO THE HOLES,
BUT IT WAS NO GOOD.
MY COWORKER,
WHO WAS A BLACK MAN
FROM THE SOUTH,
AND I WERE DOING
OUR USUAL TRIP AROUND THE BOMB
CASE WELDING THE SIDES.
AND THIS PARTICULAR NIGHT
I THINK I WAS FEELING
A LITTLE LOW ALTOGETHER.
THE WAR WAS TAKING
A LONG, LONG TIME,
AND THE MEN WERE AWAY,
NOT FOR A YEAR OR TWO,
BUT FOR THE DURATION,
WHICH MIGHT MEAN FOREVER.
AND IT WAS BEGINNING
TO WEAR ON ME.
AND MY PARTNER AS HE PASSED BY,
HE RAISED UP HIS GOGGLES
AND HE REALLY SMILED
INTO MY FACE,
AND HE SAID TO ME IN YIDDISH...
AND I LOOKED AT HIM,
AND IT WAS THE SWEETEST THING
HE COULD HAVE SAID TO ME
AT THAT MOMENT.
"WORK MAKES LIFE SWEET."
- EDITH STONER'S HUSBAND
IS IN ALASKA.
SHE TOOK THIS JOB
FOR THE DURATION.
HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR JOB,
MRS. STONER?
- I LOVE IT.
- HOW ABOUT AFTER THE WAR?
ARE YOU GONNA KEEP ON WORKING?
- I SHOULD SAY NOT.
WHEN MY HUSBAND COMES BACK,
I'M GONNA BE BUSY AT HOME.
- GOOD FOR YOU.
- LEE DUNNEY, WHO NOW WELDS ON
LANDING BARGES.
LEE, WHAT DID YOU USED TO DO?
- BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
I WAS A BABY NURSE.
- WELL, QUITE A CHANGE
TO THIS.
- YEAH, BUT THE HOURS
ARE MUCH SHORTER.
- WHAT ABOUT AFTER THIS WAR,
LEE?
- WELL, THIS JOB BELONGS
TO SOME SOLDIER.
AND, WHEN HE COMES BACK,
HE CAN HAVE IT.
- OH, THAT'S SWELL.
- CONFIDENT OWNER-PRESIDENT
BILL JACK
SPURS ON THE TROOPS
HE COMMANDS.
- THE COMING OF PEACE
WILL WORK NO UNEMPLOYMENT
HARDSHIPS ON YOU.
YOU WOMEN HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED
BECAUSE THE ARMED FORCES
HAVE CALLED YOUR HUSBANDS,
BROTHERS, OR SONS.
EACH RETURNING SERVICEMAN
WILL GET HIS JOB BACK
WHEN THIS WAR IS WON.
AND YOU WOMEN AND GIRLS
WILL GO HOME BACK TO BEING
HOUSEWIVES AND MOTHERS AGAIN
AS YOU PROMISED TO DO
WHEN YOU CAME TO WORK FOR US.
IF ALL INDUSTRY
WOULD ADOPT SIMPLE POLICY,
THERE WOULD BE NO SERIOUS
POSTWAR PROBLEM OF UNEMPLOYMENT.
- ♪ ONWARD, ON TO VICTORY ♪
♪ WORKING HARD FOR UNCLE SAM ♪
- TIME MARCHES ON.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
- IT WAS SOMETHING
YOU REALLY CANNOT IMAGINE.
I REMEMBER MY MOTHER-IN-LAW
RUNNING DOWN THE STREET,
AND SHE WAS SAYING
TO THE GROCER,
"YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET
THOSE PRICES FROM US ANYMORE,"
BECAUSE DURING THE WAR
PRICES ROSE UNCONSCIONABLY.
THEY TRIED TO HOLD
A LID ON THEM, BUT OFTEN...
SHE SAID,
"NO MORE TWO FOR 5.
IT'S GONNA BE FOUR FOR 5."
BUT SHE WAS WRONG.
ANYWAY, THE DAY WAS MARVELOUS.
- WE WERE GLAD THE WAR WAS OVER,
WE REALLY WERE,
'CAUSE, EVEN THOUGH YOU
DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY OVER THERE,
YOU'RE WORKING
WITH EVERYBODY ELSE
THAT HAD SOMEBODY OVER THERE.
AND THEY'RE SO GLAD,
'CAUSE, YOU KNOW,
THEIR HUSBANDS
AND BROTHERS ARE COMING HOME.
AND SO NATURALLY YOU JUST GET
IN THE SPIRIT OF IT WITH THEM.
YOU KNOW,
EVERYBODY'S CELEBRATING.
- MY HUSBAND WAS HOME.
HE HAD BEEN SENT HOME
A WEEK BEFORE.
AND IT WAS SIMPLY...
IT WAS SIMPLY MARVELOUS
FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE
AND NOT SO MARVELOUS FOR OTHERS
WHO HAD LOST LOVED ONES.
BUT THE FEELING OF THE DAY
WAS HAPPY,
AND, OF COURSE, AT THAT POINT,
WE FELT THAT EVEN THE LOSSES
HAD BEEN
FOR A VERY, VERY GOOD CAUSE.
WE HAD TO LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.
♪ ♪
- NOW HE RETURNS.
WHAT DOES HE WANT?
WITH THE SIGHT OF HOME
STILL BEYOND THE HORIZON,
HE'S UNDENIABLY THINKING
OF A NUMBER OF THINGS.
THE LONGEST SLEEP
IN THE SOFTEST FEATHER BED
THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN.
A PLATOON OF BATHING BEAUTIES,
WHO ONLY HAVE EYES FOR HIM.
BUT WHEN THE IDLE DREAM
HAS DRIFTED,
MOST OF ALL,
THE AVERAGE SOLDIER
WANTS SIMPLY A JOB.
HE RETURNS,
ARMED FOR A CIVILIAN FUTURE
WITH TRAINING AND SKILLS,
ADAPTED TO AN AMAZING VARIETY
OF CIVILIAN JOBS.
THIS MAN
AND A THOUSAND-ODD OTHERS OF HIM
NOW RETURN.
HE REPRESENTS ONCE AGAIN
THE BEST OF AMERICA,
THE MOST CAPABLE POTENTIAL
GROUP OF WORKERS
THE NATION HAS EVER KNOWN.
- THE WOMEN WERE LAID OFF FIRST,
AND THEN THE LESS SENIORED
BLACK MEN WERE LAID OFF NEXT.
AND THEN LAST BUT NOT...
AS TIME WENT ON,
FINALLY, MANY OF THE WHITE
WORKERS WERE LAID OFF.
BUT ORIGINALLY THE FIRST ONES
LAID OFF WAS WOMEN.
- APPARENTLY THE CONTRACT
FOR THE BOMB CASES
HAD BEEN FULFILLED,
AND WE WERE GIVEN NOTICE.
AND THE JOB WAS OVER.
- I KNEW THAT THE JOB WOULD
TERMINATE WHEN THE WAR WAS OVER,
AND THAT'S WHY I WENT...
I WORKED MY SHIFT, GO ON DOWN
TO THE WELDING SCHOOL,
AND I TOOK IT ALL.
YOU SEE, JUST TO BE A WELDER,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE IT ALL,
BUT I TOOK IT ALL,
THE ACETYLENE,
AND, OH, THERE WAS
ABOUT THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT
KINDS OF WELDING.
AND I WENT TO SCHOOL
AFTER WORK FOR FOUR HOURS
SO THAT, WHEN I GOT OUT
OF THERE,
I COULD GET A JOB
OF WELDING
BECAUSE I REALLY ENJOYED IT
AND I REALLY LIKED IT.
- I KNOW HOW TO RIVET.
I KNOW HOW TO WELD.
I KNOW HOW TO WORK
AN ASSEMBLY LINE.
I KNOW HOW TO RUN A DOLLY,
YOU KNOW, TO GET PARTS OUT.
I THOUGHT I HAD SEVERAL SKILLS
THAT WERE, YOU KNOW,
VERY GOOD AND I WOULDN'T HAVE
ANY PROBLEMS
GETTING A JOB ANYWHERE ELSE.
- WE BELIEVED THAT THE ECONOMY
WAS GOING TO BURGEON.
IT WOULD BE SPLENDID.
WE WOULD REBUILD THE CITIES.
WE WOULD DO ALL THESE THINGS
BECAUSE, BEFORE THE WAR,
WE DIDN'T HAVE
ALL THESE SKILLED PEOPLE.
BUT NOW WE HAD...
THE WAR WOULD BE OVER,
IT WOULD BE TIME TO DO ALL
THE GOOD AND BEAUTIFUL THINGS
FOR AMERICA
BECAUSE FASCISM WAS DESTROYED.
- ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS,
BUSINESSMEN HAVE BEEN
BUCKLING DOWN TO THE WORK
OF RESEARCH AND PLANNING.
HOW THE CHANGEOVER
TO PRODUCTION FOR PEACE
CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT
EVEN A TEMPORARY BREAKDOWN.
AT THE SAME TIME,
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
ARE FACED WITH THE TASK
OF HAVING TO FIND JOBS
FOR RETURNING VETERANS
WHO ARE NOW BEING DISCHARGED
FROM THE SERVICES
AT THE RATE OF 70,000
A MONTH.
- HOW DO YOU DO, MR. WATSON?
- HOW DO YOU DO?
- I HAVE ALL YOUR PAPERS HERE.
YOU TAKE THIS SLIP
OVER TO BISHOP'S.
THEY NEED A MAN
IN THE TOOL CHECKING ROOM THERE.
I KNOW YOU'RE QUALIFIED.
AND YOU'RE FIRST.
- WELL, THANKS A LOT.
- INFORMED INDUSTRIALISTS
BELIEVE THAT,
WITH THE COMING OF PEACE,
THERE WILL BE A MARKET
FOR ALL THEY CAN PRODUCE,
NOT ONLY IN THE UNITED STATES,
BUT ABROAD.
AND, PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANT,
THOSE UNDERDEVELOPED REGIONS
OF ASIA AND AFRICA,
TO WHOSE PEOPLE WAR HAS BROUGHT
NEW GLIMPSES
OF MODERN INDUSTRIAL
CIVILIZATION.
FROM THESE LANDS
CAN COME RAW MATERIALS
AMERICAN INDUSTRIES
ALREADY CONSUME
IN VAST QUANTITIES.
ALL SURVEYS HAVE REVEALED
AN IMMENSE DEMAND
AMONG THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
FOR CONSUMERS' GOODS.
- THE FIRST THING
I'M GOING TO DO AFTER THE WAR
IS GET A VACUUM CLEANER
AND A MAID TO RUN IT.
- MILLIONS OF AMERICANS,
THE SURVEYS SHOW,
ARE WAITING FOR A CHANCE
TO BUY THE NEW PRODUCTS
AND NEW GADGETS THEY HAVE BEEN
TOLD WILL MAKE LIFE EASIER
AND PLEASANTER.
TODAY INDUSTRIALISTS ARE
RESOLVED THAT ALL EMPLOYABLE
MEN AND WOMEN,
ALL HOMECOMING VETERANS,
SHALL FIND THE POSTWAR JOBS
THAT WILL SECURE FOR THEM
THEIR SELF-RESPECT,
THEIR LIVING,
AND THEIR NATION'S FUTURE.
- THEY WANTED TO PUT
THE WOMEN IN SEWING,
BECAUSE, IN SPECIFYING
THAT THEY HAD TO USE
THESE SEWING POWER MACHINES,
THEY KNEW A LOT OF WOMEN
DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO USE THEM.
AND THEY JUST GIVE YOU
YOUR MATERIAL AND SAY,
"THIS IS WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO,"
AND THEY COME BACK
IN A FEW MINUTES,
AND, "THIS IS ALL YOU GOT DONE?"
MAYBE YOU FINALLY MANAGED
TO SEE WHAT GOES WHERE
AND MAYBE DO IT A LITTLE BIT,
AND THEN THEY... RIGHT AWAY
THEY'LL DISQUALIFY YOU,
'CAUSE, WELL,
"YOU'LL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE
GET SOMETHING YOU CAN DO,
'CAUSE YOU CAN'T DO THIS."
- THERE WAS AN AD IN THE PAPER,
AND I HEARD TOO
THAT THEY WERE NEEDING WELDERS
AT MARE ISLAND.
SO I TOOK MY CARD
AND ALL MY CREDENTIALS
AND EVERYTHING,
AND I WENT OUT THERE,
AND I LAID MY PAPERS
ON THE DESK,
AND HE LOOKED AT 'EM,
AND HE SAID, "ALL RIGHT."
HE SAID, "IF YOU WAS A MAN,
WE'D HIRE YOU,
BUT WE CAN'T HIRE YOU.
YOU'RE A WOMAN."
- THE BIGGEST THING I FELT
WAS THE FACT THAT NOW
I HAD JUST TO GO BACK
TO THE FIELD OF SEARCHING
FOR ANOTHER JOB
TO MAKE A LIVING
WITH NO INCOME,
NO NOTHING COMING IN,
AND YOU'RE WALKING THE STREET,
GOING FROM PLACE TO PLACE
LOOKING FOR A JOB.
IT WASN'T LIKE A DANCE
IN AN OPERA.
THE MEN CAME HOME BEAT UP.
THE MEN CAME HOME WITH PROBLEMS.
THEY GAVE THEM FREE ADS
IN THE NEWSPAPERS
LOOKING FOR JOBS.
IT WAS PATHETIC.
AND WE WERE NO LONGER
COMRADES IN ARMS.
WE WERE COMPETITORS
FOR WHAT LITTLE THERE WAS.
IT WAS A VERY SHARP CONTRAST
INDEED,
BECAUSE THERE WAS
A LOT OF MONEY AROUND,
BUT IT WASN'T IN OUR POCKETS.
I SORT OF WENT
TO A FEW PLACES,
WALKED AROUND,
LOOKED UP NAMES,
WENT TO THE STATE EMPLOYMENT
AGENCY,
BUT THERE WERE NO WELDING JOBS.
AND THEN I STARTED TO WALK
AROUND MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD
IN BROOKLYN,
AND I WENT INTO ONE PLACE
WHERE THEY USED TO DO
ORNAMENTAL IRONWORK,
AND I GUESS
THEY HAD WAR CONTRACTS,
AND I THOUGHT, WELL, MAYBE THIS
WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS,
IT WAS GONNA CONTINUE, BUT THEY
REALLY JUST LAUGHED AT ME.
IT WAS THE SAME OLD THING.
IT WAS JUST, YOU KNOW,
BEING A WOMAN,
IT WAS OVER FOR US, YES.
- THE FAMILY WAS SOLIDLY FOUNDED
ON THE FATHER
AS PATRIARCH AND BREADWINNER
AND ON THE MOTHER AS COOK,
HOUSEKEEPER,
AND NURSE OF THE CHILDREN.
ONE OF THE TRENDS
OF MODERN LIFE
WHICH HAS BEEN CITED
AS MOST DISRUPTIVE
OF MARRIAGE IS THE INCREASING
ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE OF WOMEN.
TODAY U.S. INDUSTRY IS EMPLOYING
HUNDREDS OF WOMEN WHO,
BEFORE THE WAR,
WERE HOMEMAKERS
DEVOTING THEIR FULL TIME
TO THEIR FAMILIES
AND THEIR FAMILY
RESPONSIBILITIES.
EVERYWHERE, CHILDREN OF WORKING
PARENTS ARE BEING LEFT
WITHOUT ADEQUATE SUPERVISION
OR RESTRAINT.
TODAY THE WOMAN
WITH THE POSITION IN BUSINESS
EQUAL TO A SUCCESSFUL MAN'S
IS ECONOMICALLY ABLE
TO TERMINATE HER MARRIAGE
IF SHE IS SO MINDED
SINCE SHE IS
HER OWN BREADWINNER.
BUT ARE SUCH WOMEN
REALLY BETTER OFF?
STRONGLY AGAINST CAREERS FOR
WOMEN IS DR. MARYNIA FARNHAM,
NOTED PHYSICIAN AND COAUTHOR
OF THE BESTSELLER
MODERN WOMAN: THE LOST SEX.
- CATASTROPHIC SOCIAL FORCES
HAVE PROPELLED AMERICAN WOMEN
AWAY FROM FEMININITY
AND INTO CAREERS
AT TERRIFIC COST
TO THEMSELVES AND SOCIETY.
ABANDONING THEIR FEMININE ROLE
HAS MADE WOMEN UNHAPPY BECAUSE
IT HAS MADE THEM FRUSTRATED.
IT HAS MADE CHILDREN UNHAPPY
BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE
MATERNAL LOVE,
AND IT HAS MADE
THEIR HUSBANDS UNHAPPY
BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE
REAL WOMEN AS PARTNERS.
INSTEAD, THEIR WIVES
HAVE BECOME THEIR RIVALS.
- THEY HAD SOLD US
A BILL OF GOODS.
THEY HAVE TRAINED US.
WE DID WHAT WE HAD
REALLY BEEN SET OUT TO DO.
AND EVERYTHING ELSE
WAS SOMETHING
THAT WE HAD WISHED TO DO.
THERE WERE NO PLANS...
WHEREVER THESE PLANS ARE MADE,
TO KEEP US.
AND THIS WAS VERY CLEAR
TO ME BY THEN.
SO I JUST TOOK MY NEXT STEP
BECAUSE I WAS A WORKING PERSON.
NOT ONLY A WELDER,
I WAS A WORKING PERSON,
SOMEONE WHO HAD TO KEEP WORKING.
- YOU HAVE A LOT
OF RESPONSIBILITIES,
ESPECIALLY A WIDOW WOMAN,
A LONE WOMAN.
MY CHILDREN
HAD TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.
AND I'D BOUGHT A LITTLE HOME.
IT HAD TO BE PAID FOR.
I HAD TO GET A JOB
SOMEWHERE, SOMEHOW.
I KNEW THAT.
SO THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING
ABOUT WHEN I LEFT THERE.
I GOT A JOB IN A RESTAURANT
WORKING IN THE KITCHEN.
HOT, HARD WORK.
HEAVY LIFTING.
IT WAS A LOT HARDER
THAN WORKING IN THE SHIPYARD
AND A LOT LESS PAY.
I WORKED THERE 17 YEARS
IN THAT BIG KITCHEN,
17 YEARS TO THE DAY.
- I HAD A DAUGHTER
I HAD TO FEED.
SO AFTER I COULDN'T GET
THESE OTHER JOBS,
WELL, THEN I HAD TO FALL BACK
ON THE ONLY OTHER THING I KNEW,
AND THAT WAS DOING
DOMESTIC WORK,
AND IT WAS A VERY DEFEATING
THING FOR ME, VERY.
- I GOT A JOB
IN COSGRAVE'S DEPARTMENT STORE
WORKING AS A STOCK GIRL.
WELL, THEY HAD BLACK PEOPLE
WORKING IN THE STORES,
BUT THEY ALL WORKED
BEHIND THE SCENES,
IN THE TOILETS AS MAIDS,
IN THE STOCKROOMS
AS HANGING UP STOCK
AND KEEPING THE STOCK
IN ORDER,
PRESSING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
NO, THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE
PRESSERS.
- SO I WENT TO THE AIRPORT
AND GOT A JOB OUT THERE
RIGHT BACK IN THE CAFETERIA.
AND I COULD ALWAYS GET
THESE JOBS,
EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T WANT 'EM,
BUT ANY TIME
THERE'S A RESTAURANT JOB
OR A DISHWASHING JOB
OR COOKING JOB,
I ALWAYS FELT LIKE BLACKS
COULD ALWAYS GET THOSE,
'CAUSE THEY SAVE
THOSE JOBS FOR US.
- I DID MIMEOGRAPHING,
AND THEN THEY TOOK IN A NEW
MACHINE CALLED DEXIGRAPHING,
AND THAT WAS
SORT OF INTERESTING.
THEY TAUGHT ME DARKROOM WORK.
I LIKED WELDING BETTER
BECAUSE IT WAS A SPECIAL THING.
AS I SAID,
AT THE END OF THE DAY,
I ALWAYS FELT
I ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING.
IT WAS GOOD.
THERE WAS A PRODUCT.
THERE WAS SOMETHING TO BE SEEN.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN... IT WOULD
HAVE BEEN THE SAME WAY...
WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE WAR.
ALL I REALLY WANTED
WAS ONE DAY TO MAKE
A VERY BEAUTIFUL
ORNAMENTAL GATE.
THAT WAS SOMETHING
I WANTED TO DO.
I STILL THINK OF IT... ABOUT IT.
WHEN I PASS A BEAUTIFUL GATE,
I SAY,
"WAS THAT SO MUCH TO WANT?"
♪ ♪
- IN THE PAST YEAR, AN ESTIMATED
1 1/4 MILLION NEW FAMILIES
AND HOUSEHOLDS WERE ESTABLISHED.
TO THESE AND OTHER FAMILIES,
ALMOST 4 MILLION BABIES
WERE BORN LAST YEAR,
REPRESENTING A RISE
OF MORE THAN 50%
IN THE U.S. BIRTHRATE
OVER THAT OF PREWAR YEARS,
FOR MARRIAGE AND THE FOUNDING
OF A FAMILY HOLD OUT TODAY
AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE
A GREATER PROMISE
OF SELF-REALIZATION
THAN ANY OTHER COURSE IN LIFE.
- OH, YES, YES,
EVERYBODY WAS HAVING BABIES.
I MEAN, AFTER THE WAR,
MY GOD.
IT WAS LIKE A DELUGE OF BABIES.
WHEN I WENT TO HAVE
MY FIRST BABY,
THERE WASN'T EVEN ROOM.
PEOPLE WERE HAVING...
WERE DOING LABOR IN THE HALLS.
I MEAN, IT WAS REALLY...
IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.
OH, YES, EVERYBODY,
EVERYBODY AND HER SISTER
WAS HAVING A BABY.
- THE ARTICLES IN THE MAGAZINES
CHANGED.
THEY STARTED TELLING YOU
HOW TO COOK THINGS
THAT TOOK A LONG TIME,
YOU KNOW.
DURING THE WAR,
THEY WAS TELLING YOU
HOW TO COOK DISHES
THAT YOU COULD COOK QUICK
AND GET ON TO WORK.
NOW THEY WERE TELLING YOU
HOW TO COOK DISHES
THAT TOOK A FULL DAY.
THERE WERE MORE ARTICLES
IN THERE
ABOUT RAISING YOUR CHILDREN
AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL
DEVELOPMENT
OF YOUR CHILDREN.
THEY NEVER MENTIONED THAT,
YOU KNOW,
ANY PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT
BEFORE THE WAR.
THE MOVIES CHANGED TO ROMANTIC,
KIND OF MACHO WARS.
THE MAN WAS BACK HOME.
AND THE WOMAN WAS SUBMISSIVE,
AND THE MAN WAS MACHO.
BEFORE, BOTH OF THEM
WAS MACHO.
THE NURSE WAS DYING
WITH THE SOLDIER IN THE FIELD.
NOW IT WAS A WHOLE DIFFERENT...
A WHOLE DIFFERENT TACT
AND A WHOLE DIFFERENT KIND
OF PROPAGANDA
TO LET WOMEN KNOW
WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING.
- I KNOW THAT LOTS OF THE WOMEN
WHO WENT TO TRAINING WITH ME
AND WHO WORKED WITH ME
BELIEVED THAT WE WERE
THE NEW WOMAN.
WE BELIEVED IT.
I THINK TO AMERICA AT LARGE,
WHILE THEY MAY HAVE KNOWN
WHAT OUR CONTRIBUTION WAS
TO THE PRODUCTION
OF THIS COUNTRY,
WE WERE LARGELY A JOKE,
A BIG JOKE,
A SHAPELY GIRL WITH A HOT SIGN
ON HER PANTS,
A GIRL WHO WAS QUIVERING
FOR HER MAN TO COME HOME
AND GO BACK TO THE KITCHEN.
THAT'S EXACTLY THE PICTURE
THAT WAS GIVEN,
AND I THINK
THAT THEY PREPARE WOMEN
PSYCHOLOGICALLY
FOR WHATEVER ROLE
THE SOCIETY FEELS
AT THAT PARTICULAR POINT
THEY WANT HER TO PLAY.
AFTER LOSING SO MANY MEN,
AMERICA WANTED BABIES.
AND WE WANTED BABIES.
IT'S OKAY.
BUT WE GAVE UP EVERYTHING
FOR THAT.
WE GAVE UP EVERYTHING.
♪ ♪
- WE WERE REALLY A REALLY
SMART-LOOKING GROUP OF LADIES,
AND WE ALL LOVED ONE ANOTHER.
AND I HOPE FOR THAT FEELING
IN THIS COUNTRY AGAIN,
BUT NOT FOR A WAR.
♪ ♪
- ♪ WHILE OTHER GIRLS ATTEND
THEIR FAVORITE COCKTAIL BAR ♪
♪ SIPPING DRY MARTINIS,
MUNCHING CAVIAR ♪
♪ THERE'S A GIRL WHO'S REALLY
PUTTING THEM TO SHAME ♪
♪ ROSIE IS HER NAME ♪
♪ ALL THE DAY LONG,
WHETHER RAIN OR SHINE ♪
♪ SHE'S A PART
OF THE ASSEMBLY LINE ♪
♪ SHE'S MAKING HISTORY,
WORKING FOR VICTORY ♪
♪ ROSIE, RRRRR,
THE RIVETER ♪
♪ KEEPS A SHARP LOOKOUT
FOR SABOTAGE ♪
♪ SITTING UP THERE
ON THE FUSELAGE ♪
♪ THAT LITTLE FRAIL CAN DO
MORE THAN A MALE CAN DO ♪
♪ ROSIE, RRRRR, THE RIVETER ♪
♪ ROSIE'S GOT A BOYFRIEND,
CHARLIE ♪
♪ CHARLIE, HE'S A MARINE ♪
♪ ROSIE IS PROTECTING CHARLIE ♪
♪ WORKING OVERTIME
ON THE RIVETING MACHINE ♪
♪ WHEN THEY GAVE HER
A PRODUCTION E ♪
♪ SHE WAS AS PROUD
AS A GIRL COULD BE ♪
♪ THERE'S SOMETHING TRUE ABOUT,
RED, WHITE, AND BLUE ABOUT ♪
♪ ROSIE, RRRRR, THE RIVETER ♪
♪ EVERYONE STOPS
TO ADMIRE THE SCENE ♪
♪ ROSIE AT WORK ON THE B-19 ♪
- ♪ SHE'S NEVER TWITTERY,
NERVOUS OR JITTERY ♪
- ♪ ROSIE, ROSIE,
THE RIVETER ♪
♪ ♪
THEIR FAVORITE COCKTAIL BAR ♪
♪ SIPPING DRY MARTINIS,
MUNCHING CAVIAR ♪
♪ THERE'S A GIRL WHO'S REALLY
PUTTING THEM TO SHAME ♪
♪ ROSIE IS HER NAME ♪
♪ ALL THE DAY LONG
WHETHER RAIN OR SHINE ♪
♪ SHE'S A PART
OF THE ASSEMBLY LINE ♪
♪ SHE'S MAKING HISTORY ♪
♪ WORKING FOR VICTORY ♪
♪ ROSIE,
RRRRR, THE RIVETER ♪
♪ KEEPS A SHARP LOOK OUT
FOR SABOTAGE ♪
♪ SITTING UP THERE
ON THE FUSELAGE ♪
♪ THAT LITTLE FRAIL CAN DO
MORE THAN A MALE CAN DO ♪
♪ ROSIE, RRRRR,
THE RIVETER ♪
♪ ROSIE'S GOT A BOYFRIEND,
CHARLIE ♪
♪ CHARLIE, HE'S A MARINE ♪
♪ ROSIE IS PROTECTING CHARLIE ♪
♪ WORKING OVERTIME
ON THE RIVETING MACHINE ♪
♪ WHEN THEY GAVE HER
A PRODUCTION E ♪
♪ SHE WAS AS PROUD
AS A GIRL COULD BE ♪
♪ THERE'S SOMETHING TRUE ABOUT ♪
♪ RED, WHITE, AND BLUE ABOUT ♪
♪ ROSIE, ROSIE, ROSIE ♪
♪ ROSIE, ROSIE,
ROSIE ♪
♪ THE RIVETER ♪
- THE VERY FIRST JOB
I EVER HAD WAS
IN A NOVELTY FACTORY.
THEY MADE PARTY GOODS...
PARTY HATS, NOISEMAKERS,
THESE THINGS THAT KIDS BLOW
THAT HAS A FEATHER AT THE END,
ROLLS UP...
I FORGOT WHAT THEY CALL THEM.
I WAS STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL.
TIMES WERE VERY BAD,
AND I WAS VERY STRUCK
BY THE BRIGHT COLORS
AND TINSELLY THINGS
THAT WE WERE WORKING WITH
AND THE SADNESS
ON THE FACES OF THE PEOPLE
WHO WERE DOING IT.
IT WAS SO BORING.
IT WAS SO JUST, YOU KNOW,
ONE SORT OF... ONE MOVEMENT
ALL THE TIME.
PASTE, STAPLE,
PUT IT DOWN,
STAPLE, DO IT,
STAPLES,
DO IT, STAPLE.
144, AND YOU'VE MADE A DIME.
- WE LIVED IN...
OH, MY GOODNESS,
I GUESS YOU WOULD CALL IT SLUMS.
WE COULDN'T AFFORD ELECTRICITY
BECAUSE OF THE DEPRESSION.
WE USED OIL LAMPS,
KEROSENE OIL LAMPS,
AND OUR VARIETY OF DIET
CONSISTED OF A DIFFERENT BEAN
EVERY DAY.
ONE DAY, YOU WOULD HAVE
WHITE BEANS.
THE NEXT DAY, PINTO BEANS.
THE NEXT DAY,
BLACK-EYED PEAS.
I DID WORK... WHAT WE CALL
A PRIVATE FAMILY,
LIKE, FOR A DOLLAR A DAY.
WE WERE CALLED
KITCHEN MECHANICS,
AND WE GOT THURSDAY OFF
AND EVERY OTHER SUNDAY MAYBE
IF WE WERE VERY GOOD.
- WHEN I MET MY HUSBAND,
WHEN I WAS DATING HIM,
I WAS ONLY 14 WHEN I MET HIM.
AND I THOUGHT IT WAS DATING,
BUT I GUESS IT REALLY WASN'T.
BUT I WAS RIDING AROUND
IN HIS CAR,
AND IT WAS...
IT SEEMED LIKE DATING TO ME.
AND HE HAD A JOB
AT OLDSMOBILE,
AND I THOUGHT HE WAS RICH
BECAUSE THERE WAS NO BLACK MEN
IN OLDSMOBILE.
HE SAID IF I WOULD MARRY HIM,
YOU KNOW, I COULD DRIVE A CAR.
WE NEVER HAD A CAR,
AND THIS WAS REALLY SOMETHING.
I WOULD HAVE MARRIED HIM
ON THAT ALONE.
MY MOTHER'S FRIENDS,
THEY WERE ALL DOING HOUSEWORK
OR WORKING IN RESTAURANTS.
AND, WELL, THAT WAS JUST
ABOUT ALL THAT WAS OPEN TO THEM.
NOW MY MOTHER WAS FORTUNATE.
SHE GOT A JOB IN A HOTEL.
IT WAS THE OLD OLDS HOTEL
AT THAT TIME.
IT'S JACK TAR NOW I THINK.
BUT THERE TOO
SHE WAS JUST MAKING THE BEDS...
SHE WAS A CHAMBERMAID.
THAT'S WHAT THEY CALLED IT
AT THAT TIME.
AND I JUST DIDN'T WANT
ANY OF THOSE JOBS.
- WE RAISED CORN AND CANE.
AND WE'D TOP THE CANE
AND STRIP IT
AND RUN IT
THROUGH A MOLASSES MILL.
WE MADE MOLASSES.
AND WE RAISED... EVERYTHING WE ATE
CAME OFF OF THAT FARM.
BUT MY HUSBAND DIED,
MY MOTHER-IN-LAW,
THE FARM BELONGED TO HER,
AND SHE SOLD IT.
AND I HITCHED UP MY TEAM
AND MY WAGON,
MADE A COVERED WAGON, AND DROVE
FROM 90 MILES NORTHEAST
OF ST. LOUIS TO SPRINGFIELD.
MY MOTHER LIVED IN SPRINGFIELD.
I THOUGHT, OH, LORD,
WHAT'LL I DO NOW?
SAW THAT WOMAN SPADING
THAT BIG GARDEN,
AND I WENT OVER THERE,
AND I SAID,
"I HAVE A TEAM AND A PLOW.
I'LL PLOW IT FOR YOU."
TIME I GOT HERS PLOWED,
HERE COME A MAN
UP TO ME, AND HE SAID,
"LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE DOING
A PRETTY GOOD JOB THERE,"
AND I SAID, "WELL,"
AND HE SAID, "I HAVE SIX ACRES
OF NEW GROUND OUT HERE
I'D LIKE TO HAVE PLOWED."
AND WANTED TO KNOW
IF I COULD DO IT, YOU KNOW,
AND I SAID, "SURE CAN.
I'LL BE OUT THERE DAYLIGHT
IN THE MORNING."
SO I GOT OUT THERE DAYLIGHT
IN THE MORNING
BEFORE HE DID,
AND I HAD PLOWED ONE FURROW.
AND HE WAS WAITING UP THERE
AT THE END
TILL I GOT THERE, AND HE SAID,
"LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE DOING
A PRETTY GOOD JOB THERE."
AND I SAID,
"THANK YOU."
HE LOOKED AT ME, AND HE SAID,
"ARE YOU A WOMAN?"
AND I SAID,
"YES, I AM. WHY?"
AND HE SAID, "WELL, IF I'D KNOWN
YOU WAS A WOMAN,
"I WOULDN'T HAVE HIRED YOU.
I THOUGHT YOU WAS
A BIG COUNTRY BOY."
HE SAID,
"THIS IS HARD PLOWING.
THIS IS NEW GROUND."
I SAYS, "I KNOW IT.
AND YOU JUST SAID
I WAS DOING A GOOD JOB OF IT."
AND HE SAID, "WELL, IF YOU THINK
YOU CAN DO IT, GO RIGHT AHEAD."
AND I PLOWED THAT SIX ACRES
OF NEW GROUND.
I GOT A GOOD PIECE OF MONEY
FOR THAT.
- I WAS WORKING IN A JOB
DOING HOUSEWORK,
BUT IT WAS SORT OF A DIFFERENT
KIND OF HOUSEWORK.
YOU WERE TREATED
MORE LIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY,
AND I REALLY LIKED IT THERE.
AND THEY HAD TWO CHILDREN.
BUT ONE DAY SHE CALLED ME
AND TOLD ME
TO COME LISTEN TO THE RADIO.
- WE INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM
TO BRING YOU
A SPECIAL NEWS BULLETIN.
THE JAPANESE HAVE ATTACKED
PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, BY AIR,
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
HAS JUST ANNOUNCED.
- DECEMBER 7, 1941,
A DATE
WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
WAS SUDDENLY AND DELIBERATELY
ATTACKED
BY NAVAL AND AIR FORCES
OF THE EMPIRE OF JAPAN.
WITH CONFIDENCE
IN OUR ARMED FORCES,
WITH THE UNBOUNDING
DETERMINATION
OF OUR PEOPLE,
WE WILL GAIN
THE INEVITABLE TRIUMPH,
SO HELP US GOD.
♪ ♪
- THE BATTLEFIELDS OF AMERICA
ARE THE PRODUCTION LINES...
THE SWEAT AND MUSCLE
AND BRAINS OF MEN
POUNDING OUT THE TOOLS
OF VICTORY,
SLUGGING OUT MORE
AND MORE AND MORE.
A MIGHTY INDUSTRIAL PROGRAM
MOVING FASTER AND FASTER.
LABOR SUPPLY TO MATCH IT,
LAGGING BEHIND.
MEN DESIGNATING THEMSELVES
AN EMERGENCY COMMITTEE.
REPRESENTATIVES OF GOVERNMENT.
LEADING INDUSTRIALISTS.
THEY WERE DETERMINED
NO WOMAN SHOULD CASH A CHECK,
BOARD A BUS, SEE A MOVIE,
OR WALK DOWN THE STREET
WITHOUT GETTING ACQUAINTED
WITH THE IDEA
THAT SHE WAS NEEDED.
A WOMEN'S COMMITTEE
WALKED THE STREETS
AND KNOCKED ON THE DOORS.
THREE WOMEN ON YOUR BLOCK
SAY THEY'D GET A WAR JOB
IF THEIR NEIGHBOR DID.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
- SOMEBODY HAD WRITTEN ME
THE LETTER
FROM OUT HERE IN CALIFORNIA
AND SAID I COULD MAKE MORE
WORKING OUT HERE
IN A DAY THAN I COULD
IN A WEEK BACK THERE.
SO...
- SO WHAT'D YOU DO?
WELL, I TOLD THE WOMAN ABOUT IT
THAT'S SETTING
AT THE MACHINE NEXT TO ME,
AND SHE SAID, "IF YOU WANT TO GO
TO CALIFORNIA WITH ME,
YOU CAN BE READY
AT 6:00 THIS EVENING."
I REALLY GOT A MOVE ON.
- WHEN FACTORY WORK OPENED UP,
IT WAS LIKE A GODSEND
BECAUSE THERE YOU WAS EARNING
PRETTY GOOD MONEY.
AND MY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER...
I REMEMBER IT FROM HEART
ALMOST FROM THE FIRST DAY,
366-24-9339,
I THOUGHT THAT WAS SO TERRIFIC
THAT I HAD
A SOCIAL SECURITY CARD.
AND I CARRIED IT AROUND
IN MY PURSE.
THEY SENT ME RIGHT OUT AS SOON
AS I GOT MY SOCIAL SECURITY CARD
TO A FACTORY.
- WE WERE GONNA GET IN
ON THE GROUND FLOOR
AND BE WELDERS FOREVER AND EVER.
AND THE WORK ON GLIDERS TOO
WAS VERY MUCH WHAT I WANTED
BECAUSE IT WAS ALMOST AN ART
AS WELL AS A SKILL.
IT WAS A VERY, VERY BEAUTIFUL
KIND OF WORK.
- IT TAKES HUMAN POWER TO KEEP
WAR FACTORIES GOING,
AND MUCH OF OUR MANPOWER
IS GOING TO WAR.
MORE AND MORE MEN ARE BEING
CALLED INTO THE ARMED FORCES.
THEIR JOBS MUST BE FILLED
AND FILLED NOW.
AND WHO CAN FILL THEM?
YOU.
YOU WOMEN.
YOU'RE THE ONES
WHO MUST FILL THEM,
WHO CAN GIVE OUR BOYS
WHAT THEY NEED.
IF YOU NEED TRAINING,
YOU CAN GET IT, AND IT'S FREE.
WE MUST WIN THIS WAR.
BUT WE CAN'T WIN THIS WAR
UNLESS YOU WOMEN
TAKE OVER THE JOBS
THAT MEN ARE LEAVING.
AND YOU'RE NEEDED RIGHT NOW.
- THEY SAID, "COME ON, WE CAN GO
AND GET IN THE SHIPYARDS."
AND SO WHEN I TRIED TO GET
INTO THE SHIPYARDS,
THEY TOLD ME I HAD
TO GO TO SCHOOL.
AND THEN I FOUND OUT
ABOUT SAMUEL GOMPERS,
AND I WENT TO SAMUEL GOMPERS
AND TOOK TRAINING
FOR A SHIPFITTER.
- MEN HAD BEEN TELLING US
ALL ALONG THE LINE THAT,
OH, IT TAKES SIX YEARS
TO BECOME A WELDER.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE AN APPRENTICE.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE THIS.
THEY HAD BEEN SOLD A BILL
OF GOODS IN THEIR LIVES.
YOU SEE,
IT WASN'T TRUE AT ALL.
IT JUST WORKED OUT
FOR BOSSES TO DO THAT.
ACTUALLY, IT COULD BE LEARNED
AND LEARNED WELL
IF IT WAS TAUGHT WELL
IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
- HE TOLD ME I'D PASSED 98%.
HE SAID,
"YOU'VE GOT GOOD GRADES.
YOU PASSED 98%."
YOU KNOW, ANYTHING THAT
A PERSON'S REALLY INTERESTED IN,
WELL, THEY MAKE BETTER GRADES
AT IT
THAN SOMETHING
THEY DON'T LIKE TO DO.
- IN THE SPRAWLING AIRCRAFT
FACTORIES ON THE WEST COAST,
TEAMS OF WOMEN FLUSH THE RIVETS
THAT HOLD TOGETHER THE ALUMINUM
SKIN ON THE WING OF A B-24.
THIS IS LIKE PUNCHING HOLES
IN A TIN OF SCOURING POWDER.
INSTEAD OF CUTTING OUT DRESSES,
THIS WOMAN STAMPS OUT
THE PATTERNS OF AIRPLANE PARTS.
THEY ARE TAKING TO WELDING
AS THOUGH THE WELDING ROD
WERE A NEEDLE AND THE METAL
A LENGTH OF CLOTH TO BE SEWN.
♪ ♪
AFTER A SHORT APPRENTICESHIP,
A WOMAN CAN OPERATE
THIS PRESS
AS EASILY AS A JUICE EXTRACTOR
IN HER OWN KITCHEN.
AND A LATHE WILL HOLD
NO MORE TERRORS FOR HER
THAN AN ELECTRIC
WASHING MACHINE.
- AND IT WASN'T ANY TIME
BEFORE WE GOT THE KNACK OF IT,
BECAUSE, FOR ONE THING,
WOMEN'S HANDS WEREN'T AS BIG
AND CLUMSY AS MEN.
WE HAD TO GRIND OUR OWN TOOLS.
SO THEREFORE IT WAS EASIER
FOR US TO KNOW
WHEN TO STOP GRINDING,
HOW TO TAKE THE MACHINE...
WE HAD, I DON'T KNOW,
MORE OF A SUBTLE TOUCH.
REALLY, WE DID BETTER
THAN THE MEN.
- THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING
TO MAKE IT EASY FOR YOU
UNLESS MAYBE YOU'D RUN
INTO ONE THAT WAS STUCK ON YOU
AND WANTED TO DATE YOU
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND THEN HE'D GO OUT OF HIS WAY
FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
IF IT DIDN'T WORK OUT,
WELL, YOU DIDN'T GET NO HELP
FROM HIM EITHER.
- THE MEN, YOU KNOW, HAD THE...
SOMETIMES THEY TREATED US
PRETTY BADLY BECAUSE, TO A MAN,
WHEN A WOMAN WALKED IN,
IT MEANT THAT A MAN WENT TO WAR.
AND EVEN THOUGH THE POPULATION
WAS VERY MUCH
IN FAVOR OF THE WAR,
ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS,
WHO THE HELL WANTS TO GO TO WAR?
- AS OUR ARMED FORCES GREW,
SO DID THEIR DEMANDS
FOR EQUIPMENT,
SUPPLIES, FOOD,
MATERIAL OF ALL KINDS.
THE NEED FOR WOMEN
GREW DESPERATE,
AND THOUSANDS OF WOMEN
ANSWERED THE CALL.
THE HIDDEN ARMY
DREW FRESH RECRUITS.
ITS RANKS GREW
TO NEARLY 18 MILLION.
MANY OF THESE WOMEN
CAME FROM WALKS OF LIFE
NOT PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED...
THE MOTHERS,
THE YOUNG, THE AGED.
WHEN THEY WERE ASKED
WHY THEY HAD JOINED THE RANKS
OF THE HIDDEN ARMY, THESE WOMEN
GAVE A VARIETY OF REASONS.
- MY HUSBAND'S A PRISONER
OF THE JAPS
IN THE PHILIPPINES.
IF HE'D HAD A FEW MORE
OF THESE SHELLS
OUT IN BATAAN,
MAYBE HE'D STILL BE FIGHTING.
- I'M AN OLD MAID,
AND I DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE
UNTIL I TOOK THIS DEFENSE JOB.
NOW I HAVE A FAMILY
OF 10 MILLION TO LOOK AFTER.
- WHY DID I TAKE A DEFENSE JOB?
THAT'S A FUNNY QUESTION.
I NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT BEFORE.
DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A REASON?
WE'RE IN A JAM, AREN'T WE?
I'M SORRY,
BUT YOU'LL HAVE TO EXCUSE ME.
I'M TOO BUSY TO ANSWER
DAMN FOOL QUESTIONS LIKE THAT.
- SOMEHOW THAT ANSWER
PLEASED US.
NO SUDDEN EMOTIONAL URGE
SENT THIS YOUNG WOMAN
INTO WAR WORK,
NO LOSS OF A LOVED ONE,
NO TEMPORARY
ECONOMIC EMBARRASSMENT,
NO MERE YEARNING
FOR EXCITEMENT
OR NOVELTY.
THERE ARE MILLIONS LIKE HER.
THERE WILL HAVE TO BE.
- I KNEW I WAS A RIVETER,
'CAUSE, WITH ALL THIS TRAINING...
AND I REALLY SAID
THIS WAS REALLY GONNA
BE NICE...
BUT, WHEN THEY SENT ME IN THERE,
THEY SENT ME TO THE FOUNDRY.
3/4 OF THE WOMEN
THAT THEY SENT IN THERE
WERE BLACK,
SO THEY SENT
JUST ENOUGH WHITE WOMEN
TO SAY THAT WE DO HAVE
WHITE WOMEN HERE.
I EXPECTED TO SEE SOMETHING
LIKE I SAW
IN THAT TRAINING CENTER.
I EXPECTED TO SEE EVERYTHING ALL
SET UP TO GO TO START RIVETING.
I SAID, "WELL, THIS TRAINING
IS JUST WASTED THEN."
BUT IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM
TO BE ANYTHING
AT THAT TIME
THAT WE COULD DO ABOUT IT.
AND FOR ONCE I WAS EVEN AFRAID
TO SAY TOO MUCH
TO A COMMITTEEMAN.
I WAS LOOKING 'EM UP
AND FINDING OUT
WHO WAS COMMITTEEMEN
AND EVERYTHING,
BUT I SAID,
"WELL, I GUESS
I BETTER KIND OF..."
WELL, YOU TALK TO OTHER WOMEN
ABOUT IT,
AND THEY SAID, "WELL, WE BETTER
KEEP STILL FOR A WHILE.
AT LEAST WE'RE IN HERE."
- WE WENT TO MOORE'S SHIPYARD
TO BE SIGNED IN
BECAUSE THEY'D CALLED
AND SAID THEY NEEDED
FOUR FITTERS.
AND WHEN WE GOT THERE
THE SUPERINTENDENT
TOOK THE THREE WHITE PERSONS
THAT WAS WITH ME
AND LEFT ME SITTING OUTSIDE
AND CAME BACK ABOUT 45 MINUTES
AND SAID,
"NO, WE DON'T HAVE
ANY OPENINGS."
I SAID, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
"I WAS TOLD AT THE SCHOOL
YOU HAD FIVE OPENINGS,
"AND I WAS SENT HERE
AS THE PERSON
"IN CHARGE
OF ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE.
WHERE ARE THEY?"
"OH," HE SAID.
"WE FOUND PLACES FOR THEM."
IT WAS CLEAR THEY DIDN'T WANT
A BLACK WOMAN
IN THE ELITE TRADE
OF SHIPFITTING.
GOD, I WAS SO MAD,
I GOT UP AND I SAID,
"IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE OPEN?"
AND THEY SAID, YES,
THEY HAD WELDERS
AND BURNER JOBS OPEN.
AND THE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS,
"WELL, YOU HAVE TO GO BACK
TO SCHOOL TO LEARN TO BURN."
AND I SAID, "NO, I DON'T.
YOU JUST GIVE ME A TEST
AND SEE IF I CAN BURN."
I GOT TO THE INSTRUCTOR
WHO HAD ALL THIS EQUIPMENT,
HE SAYS, "WELL, HERE'S
A NICE, THICK PIECE OF STEEL.
BEVEL IT."
AND I SAID, "OKAY."
SO KNOWING THAT I WOULD TELL
THE BURNER TO MAKE SURE
IT WAS GOOD AND HOT BEFORE
HE STARTED TO CUTTING HIS.
I STARTED TO GETTING IT HOT.
HE SAID, "NEVER MIND.
NEVER MIND.
I SEE YOU KNOW YOUR BUSINESS."
AND THEN HE GAVE ME
A PIECE TO CUT OUT
WITH A LOT OF DESIGNS ON IT,
AND I GOT MYSELF DOWN
LIKE I'D SEEN
THE BURNERS DO ONCE THEY'RE
GETTING READY TO START CUT.
AND HE SAID,
"NEVER MIND. YOU'LL DO.
I'LL SEND YOU IN
AS A FIRST STAGE BURNER."
AND I SAID, "OKAY."
AND HE SAYS, "YOU'LL BE MAKING
$1.05 AN HOUR."
IF I HAD GONE IN
AS A SHIPFITTER'S HELPER,
I WOULD HAVE BEEN ONLY MAKING
.85, SO I WAS DELIGHTED.
HERE I WAS MAKING MORE MONEY
IN FIVE MINUTES
THAN ALL THE REST OF THEM
WERE MAKING
WHEN THEY WENT IN AS HELPERS.
SO THAT'S HOW I GOT
INTO THE SHIPYARD.
AND I BECAME THE ONLY WOMAN
EVER TO MAKE SHELL BURNER
AT MOORE'S SHIPYARD.
- ♪ EVERYONE STOPS TO ADMIRE
THE SCENE ♪
♪ ROSIE AT WORK ON THE B-19 ♪
- ♪ SHE'S NEVER TWITTERY ♪
♪ NERVOUS OR JITTERY ♪
- ♪ ROSIE, ROSIE,
THE RIVETER ♪
♪ WHAT IF SHE'S SMEARED
FULL OF OIL AND GREASE? ♪
♪ DOING HER BIT
FOR THE OLD LEND-LEASE ♪
♪ SHE KEEPS THE GANG AROUND ♪
♪ THEY LOVE TO HANG AROUND ♪
♪ ROSIE, ROSIE,
THE RIVETER ♪
- ♪ ROSIE BUYS A LOT
OF WAR BONDS ♪
♪ THAT GIRL REALLY HAS SENSE ♪
- ♪ AND WISHES
SHE COULD PURCHASE ♪
♪ MORE BONDS ♪
♪ PUTTING ALL HER CASH
IN THE NATIONAL DEFENSE ♪
- I HAD WORKED
ON THE DOUBLE BOTTOMS
CLEAR UP TO THE CROW'S NEST.
THERE'S ONLY ABOUT THREE FEET
YOU HAVE TO SET DOWN
IN THERE TO WORK
IN THE DOUBLE BOTTOMS,
AND YOU CAN'T WORK IN THERE
VERY LONG
BECAUSE IT GETS PRETTY WELL
FILLED UP WITH SMOKE,
AND THEN YOU HAVE TO GET OUT.
WELDED ON THE DECK
THE BIG SLABS OF IRON
THAT LAY ON THE DECK.
WELDED THOSE TOGETHER.
WELDING ON THE DECK
IS REALLY FUN.
I ENJOYED EVERY BIT OF IT.
- OH, IT WAS GOOD
TO WORK WITH PEOPLE.
IT'S SOMETHING
ABOUT THAT CAMARADERIE
THAT YOU REALLY NEED
ON A JOB.
IF THE JOB IS HARD
AND EVERYBODY'S WORKING HARD,
YOU DON'T MIND.
IT'S JUST THAT SHARING
AND ALL DOING IT TOGETHER.
- LUNCH HOUR WOULD FIND US
SPREAD OUT ON THE SIDEWALK,
WOMEN WELDERS
WITH OUR LITTLE OUTFITS,
AND USUALLY A QUART OF MILK
IN ONE HAND
AND A SALAMI SANDWICH
IN THE OTHER.
WORKERS FROM OTHER SHOPS
ON THE STREETS
WOULD LOOK AT US, AND WE
WOULD SAY WE WERE WELDERS,
AND WE WERE INTERLOPERS.
AND WE HAD A HAPPY ATTITUDE
TOWARD OUR WORK
THAT THEY, OF COURSE,
REALLY DID NOT HAVE,
BECAUSE THEY WERE IN THE MIDDLE
AND AT THE END OF THEIR STORIES,
AND WE THOUGHT WE WERE
AT THE BEGINNING.
- HERE IS THE OFFICE OF THE
SUPERVISOR OF WOMEN EMPLOYEES.
BUT ARE THEY DOING ALL RIGHT?
- BEYOND ANYTHING
ANYONE EVER DREAMED OF.
THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING
IN ALMOST EVERY DEPARTMENT
IN THE PLANT.
AND I DON'T MEAN JUST CLERKS
AND CHECKERS.
WE HAVE WOMEN ENGINEERS
AND OILERS IN THE BOILER ROOM,
WOMEN REPAIR EXPERTS.
WOMEN WORK
AT THE OIL MINES ABOVEGROUND,
ALONG THE UNLOADING DOCKS,
AND ON PRIVATE RAILROAD
TRACKS...
AND WOMEN SHIPBUILDERS.
THESE WOMEN ARE WORKING
AROUND THE CLOCK
AROUND THE CALENDAR.
THEY DO A MAN'S JOB,
AND THEY CAN DRAW A MAN'S PAY.
AND THEY'RE DOING IT SAFELY.
THEY'RE SAFER HERE
THAN IN THEIR OWN HOMES.
- WELL, I WAS WELDING,
AND THE PEOPLE UP ABOVE ME,
THEY WERE KNOCKING
SOME PIECES OF IRON DOWN,
AND I HOLLERED AND SAID,
"CUT THAT OUT."
FIRST THING I KNEW, A BIG PIECE
CAME DOWN AND HIT ME
ON THE BACK OF THE HEAD,
AND DOWN I WENT.
I WAS JUST HANGING
OVER THE BIG IRON PIPES
WHEN SOMEBODY COME IN THERE
AND GOT ME OFF
OF THE BIG IRON PIPES.
I WAS TAKEN OUT
IN THE BASKET.
AND I BARELY REMEMBERED...
I THOUGHT...
I KNEW I WAS IN THE BASKET.
THEY HAVE WHAT...
THEY CALL IT THE BASKET...
AND WAS TAKEN OUT
WITHOUT A CRANE.
YOU'RE WAY UP IN THE AIR,
ALL RIGHT.
THERE WAS ONE MAN
THAT GOT KILLED
RIGHT ABOUT 12 FEET OF ME
WHEN I WAS WELDING ON THE DECK.
A BIG IRON...
WHAT DID THEY CALL THOSE?
STANDARDS OR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT.
ANYWAY, A BIG COLUMN OF IRON
FELL OVER
AND JUST MASHED HIM FLAT
INSTANTLY.
- THIS WAS A JOB...
IT WAS AN AMMUNITION PLACE
WHERE YOU HAD TO SIFT GUNPOWDER
AND STUFF.
YOU HAD TO HAVE SHOES.
THEY GAVE YOU A LARGE INSURANCE.
YOU GOT A GREAT, BIG INSURANCE,
SOMETHING LIKE $10,000
OR SOMETHING.
YOU HAD TO GO AND GET OUTFITTED
FOR IT.
FOR INSTANCE,
THE SHOES HAD TO BE GROUNDED,
AND THEY WOULDN'T GIVE US
THE SHOES ON CREDIT,
SO THEY LET US WORK
WITHOUT THE SHOES.
IF I HAD BEEN OLDER,
I WOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN THE JOB,
BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE KNOWN
IT WAS DANGEROUS.
BECAUSE ONE OF THE GIRLS...
YOU COULDN'T WEAR SLIPS...
A SLIP OR SILK STOCKINGS.
WOMEN WORE SILK STOCKINGS
IN THOSE DAYS
INSTEAD OF NYLONS
UNTIL, YOU KNOW,
THEY ALL GOT AWAY FROM US,
YOU KNOW, DURING THE WAR.
THEN WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY.
BUT SHE WENT IN WITH A HAIRPIN
IN HER HAIR ONE DAY
AND IT CREATED A SPARK
AND SHE AND HER PARTNER
BLEW UP TO SMITHEREENS.
THAT'S WHEN I SAID,
"WELL, FORGET THIS JOB.
I'M NOT GONNA WORK HERE
ANYMORE."
SO I QUIT THAT.
IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS.
- KOFSKY,
THIS SHOP ON 6TH AVENUE,
WASN'T WHAT I WAS DREAMING OF.
I HAD WANTED TO WORK
IN SOME BIG AIRCRAFT PLANT
LIKE WE WERE BEGINNING
TO SEE IN THE MOVIES.
AND KOFSKY SHOP, WELL,
IT WAS AN OLD DIVE
ON 6TH AVENUE
AND 21ST STREET.
WE WERE VERY GOOD PRODUCERS,
BUT WE WERE EARNING FAR LESS
THAN THE MEN,
BUT WE'RE DOING THE SAME WORK.
WE CERTAINLY WANTED
TO HELP THE WAR EFFORT.
ALL OF US WERE VERY INVOLVED
IN THOSE FEELINGS.
NO ONE OF US CAME FROM A FAMILY
THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF US.
WE HAD TO EARN A LIVING,
AND WE WERE NOT DOING SO.
ONE OF THE WOMEN,
BLANCHE AND I WENT DOWN
TO UNITED ELECTRICAL WORKERS
UNION.
WE STARTED
TO WEAR UNION BUTTONS,
AND MR. KOFSKY'S FACE CHANGED,
HE DIDN'T LIKE US ANYMORE.
WE WERE NO LONGER HIS GIRLS.
HE DIDN'T LIKE US.
AND HE HAD A FOREMAN EMIL
WHO FELT PERSONALLY INSULTED
BY OUR UNION BUTTONS
BECAUSE HE SAYS
THAT HE WAS GOOD TO US.
AND HE WAS GOOD TO US.
IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
IT TOOK A FEW WEEKS,
WE GOT UNION CARDS SIGNED,
WE CAME TO WORK ONE MORNING,
DOOR WAS LOCKED.
WE COULDN'T COME IN.
WE WERE LOCKED OUT.
INTERESTING SIDELIGHT.
WE HAD SOME BLACK WOMEN WORKERS
WITH US.
THEY HAD NEVER BEFORE TOLD US,
BUT ONLY WHEN WE WERE ORGANIZING
IN THE UNION
DID WE FIND OUT THAT THEY WERE
PAID 5¢ LESS PER HOUR
THAN THE WHITE WORKERS
HAD BEEN PAID.
TALK ABOUT CHEAP.
SO THELMA, OUR UNION ORGANIZER,
CAME ALONG.
SHE CALLED NEWSPAPERS,
AND THEY CAME WITH CAMERAS.
THE UNION FILED A COMPLAINT
AT THE NATIONAL
LABOR RELATIONS BOARD,
SAYING THAT WE WANTED
TO WORK,
WE WERE WORKING
FOR THE WAR EFFORT,
AND HE WOULDN'T PERMIT US
TO WORK,
HIS ATTITUDE HAD CHANGED
SINCE THE UNION.
AND OF COURSE HE SAID
WE WERE NO GOOD,
WE WERE UNSKILLED, WE DIDN'T
KNOW WHAT WE WERE DOING,
WE WERE ONLY GOOD, AS HE SAID,
FOR "BEING MARRIED
AND HAVING BABIES."
THAT'S ALL WE WERE GOOD FOR.
WELL, WE WENT
TO THE LABOR RELATIONS BOARD,
AND THEY RULED IN OUR FAVOR.
AND WE WERE MEMBERS
OF THE ELECTRICAL WORKERS UNION,
AND THE CHANGE IN OUR MONEY
WAS FANTASTIC.
I CAN'T RECALL NOW,
BUT IT WENT...
IT WAS ABOUT AN 80% RAISE.
- OH, IT MADE A GREAT CHANGE.
I THINK IT MADE CHANGES
IN EVERYBODY'S LIVES,
'CAUSE WE WEREN'T USED
TO MAKING THE MONEY
THAT WE WERE MAKING THEN.
YOU'D THINK YOU'D MAKE MORE
IN A DAY
THAN YOU USED TO MAKE
ALL WEEK.
OH, YOU JUST BOUGHT EVERYTHING,
AND IT JUST NEVER DAWNED ON YOU
TO SAVE MONEY.
IT DIDN'T TO ME.
A LOT OF 'EM DID.
SOME OF THEM
SAID THEY SAVED THEIR MONEY
JUST LIKE EVERYTHING.
AND SOMEBODY WOULD TELL ME,
YOU KNOW,
YOU BETTER SAVE THAT MONEY,
'CAUSE AFTER THE WAR
YOU CAN BUY A HOUSE,
YOU CAN BUY THIS,
YOU CAN BUY THAT.
I SAID... I'D ALWAYS SAY,
"QUIT TELLING ME
HOW TO SPEND MY MONEY."
I WAS BUYING FOX FURS
AND ALL THESE...
I WAS JUST BUYING
ANYTHING I COULD SEE.
♪ ♪
- ♪ HAVE YOU HEARD
THAT MINNIE'S IN THE MONEY ♪
♪ TAKE MY WORD
THAT MINNIE'S IN THE MONEY ♪
♪ SHE HASN'T GOT A GUY ♪
♪ WHO'S GOT A DIAMOND MINE ♪
♪ BUT SHE'S A WELDER
ON THE OLD ASSEMBLY LINE ♪
♪ SO BLESS HER, SIR ♪
♪ MINNIE'S IN THE MONEY ♪
♪ MINNIE'S IN THE MONEY ♪
♪ THAT'S FINE ♪
♪ SHE'S HELPING UNCLE SAM ♪
♪ TO KEEP HIS PEOPLE FREE ♪
♪ SHE'S OKAY, HOORAY ♪
♪ MINNIE'S IN THE DOUGH-RE-MI ♪
- WHEN I WORKED AT LOCKHEED
OR ANY OF THE FACTORIES,
I WORKED AN EIGHT-HOUR SHIFT.
IF THEY ASKED ME
TO WORK OVERTIME,
I GOT PAID FOR OVERTIME.
SO IT WAS... IT WAS
A BIG DIFFERENCE THERE.
IT WOULD GET BORING AT TIMES,
BUT ALL IN ALL
I WAS DOING
THE SAME WORK
THAT OTHER PEOPLE WAS DOING.
AND THEN IF THINGS
DIDN'T WORK RIGHT,
I COULD ALWAYS GO
TO THE UNION.
WHO COULD I GO TO
DOING DOMESTIC WORK?
THERE WAS NO UNION THERE
TO GO TO.
I EITHER HAD TO JUST QUIT,
PACK UP AND LEAVE,
OR WHATEVER,
BUT I DID HAVE SOME SAY-SO
AT A JOB IN THE FACTORY.
AND THERE WAS
ANOTHER DIFFERENCE TOO.
INSTEAD OF WORKING ALONE
ALL THE TIME,
LIKE YOU DO IN DOMESTIC WORK,
'CAUSE YOU'RE IN THE KITCHEN
OR WHEREVER YOU WERE AT
BY YOURSELF,
I WAS ALWAYS WITH A BUNCH
OF OTHER WOMEN.
- MANY OF OUR GIRLS
HAVE NEVER WORKED BEFORE
OUTSIDE THEIR OWN HOMES.
WE HAVE THE WIVES
OF COLLEGE PROFESSORS,
CLUB WOMEN, HOME GIRLS
WHO ARE DOING IT
AS THEIR PATRIOTIC DUTY.
ONE HAD HER OWN BEAUTY PARLOR.
THE OTHER WAS FORMERLY
A CIGARETTE GIRL
AT A NIGHTCLUB.
AND ROSITA MOSER,
WHO CLERKED IN ONE
OF THE COMPANY'S
FINEST DEPARTMENT STORES.
NOW SHE'S
IN OUR RECLAIMING DEPARTMENT.
- ISN'T THIS A FUNNY PLACE
FOR YOU?
- NOT IF IT HELPS WIN THE WAR.
- BUT AFTER CLERKING
IN A FASHIONABLE STORE...
- I LIKE IT HERE,
AND IT SAVES MY CLOTHES.
- YES, I SUPPOSE IT WOULD.
- DID YOU EVER TRY PLEASING
A BUNCH OF WOMEN SHOPPERS
ALL DAY?
- NO, I NEVER DID.
- WELL, HERE I JUST HAVE
TO PLEASE THE BOSS,
AND HE'S A MAN.
- OF COURSE WE'VE MADE
THE PLANTS ATTRACTIVE FOR THEM.
THE WOMEN HAVE
THEIR OWN LOCKERS
AND WASHUP ROOMS.
THEY COME OUT FROM WORK
LOOKING LIKE BUSINESS GIRLS
ON VACATION REALLY.
- WE WERE SURPRISED TO KNOW
THERE WAS A SHOWER IN THERE,
SO ONE OF THE BLACK WOMEN
WENT UP.
SO WHEN SHE WENT UP THERE
TO TAKE A SHOWER,
SHE SAYS,
"WELL, I'M GOING UP THERE,"
AND WE SAID, "OKAY, WE'LL BE UP
A LITTLE LATER."
SO THE NEXT THING WE KNOW
IS A WHOLE LOT OF CONFUSION.
WE GOT UP THERE
AND THE MATRON WAS UP THERE
AND TELLING HER TO COME OUT OF
THERE AND GET OUT OF THERE FAST.
AND SHE SAYS, "WHY?"
AND SHE SAYS,
"YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED
TO BE IN THERE."
AND SHE SAYS,
"THOSE OTHER WOMEN
ARE IN THERE TAKING A SHOWER."
SHE SAYS, "WELL, I DON'T CARE
WHO'S IN THERE.
YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED
TO BE IN THERE."
AND SHE SAID, "IF YOU DON'T
COME OUT, WE'LL GET THE GUARD."
SO WE TRIED TO TALK HER OUT.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO SEE HER
LOSE HER JOB.
AND SHE SAID,
"NO, I'M NOT COMING OUT."
SHE SAYS, "LONG AS THEY GOT
SHOWERS IN HERE,
AND THOSE WOMEN ARE USING 'EM,
I'M USING 'EM TOO."
SO THEY CLOSED THE SHOWERS DOWN.
AND SO THEN A LOT OF 'EM DECIDED
NOT TO WORK WITH US PERIOD.
SO THE UNION STEWARD
SENT TO LOCAL 600,
AND THEY SENT
A REPRESENTATIVE.
HE ASKED 'EM
WHAT WAS THE MATTER.
WELL, THEY DIDN'T WANT
TO TALK TO HIM
BECAUSE HE WAS BLACK,
AND THEY WAS WAITING
FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO COME.
HE SAYS, "I'M ALL
THAT'S GONNA BE HERE.
SO ALL I WANT TO KNOW
IS WHAT'S WRONG."
AND THEY SAID, "WE'RE NOT GONNA
WORK WITH THOSE WOMEN."
HE SAID, "WHAT WOMEN?"
AND THEY SAID... WELL,
THEY DIDN'T SAY BLACK THEN.
THEY SAID,
"WELL, THOSE COLORED WOMEN."
AND HE SAYS,
"WHY DON'T YOU WANT
TO WORK
WITH THOSE COLORED WOMEN?"
AND THEY SAID,
"WE JUST DON'T WANT TO."
HE SAID,
"WELL, DO YOU WANT THE JOBS?"
THEY SAID,
"YEAH, WE WANT THE JOBS."
HE SAYS,
"OKAY, THEN YOU GO TO WORK.
"IF YOU DON'T WANT THE JOBS,
JUST TURN IN YOUR TIME.
"THAT'S ALL YOU CAN DO.
WE'LL GET SOMEBODY THAT DOES
WANT TO WORK WITH THEM."
SO AFTER THAT, WELL,
THEY WENT ON BACK TO WORK.
THEY EVENTUALLY GOT OVER IT,
SO WE STARTED WORKING
AFTER THAT.
COURSE, AFTER WE WORKED A WHILE
AND GOT USED TO EACH OTHER,
THEN WE'D LAUGH
ABOUT THOSE THINGS.
♪ ♪
- ♪ THE DAY AFTER PAYDAY ♪
♪ IS NOT THE TIME
TO RELAX ♪
♪ STAY ON THE JOB ♪
♪ AND GIVE THE AXIS THE AX ♪
♪ TIME WON'T WAIT
FOR YOU AND ME ♪
♪ DON'T BE AN ABSENTEE ♪
♪ DON'T GO TO THE RACES ♪
♪ WHEN YOU KNOW
THAT YOUR PLACE IS ♪
♪ ON THE OLD ASSEMBLY LINE ♪
♪ NO TIME TO GO FISHIN' ♪
♪ WHEN WE NEED AMMUNITION ♪
♪ AND THE JOB IS YOURS
AND MINE ♪
♪ KEEP PUNCHING THE CLOCK ♪
♪ UNTIL YOU KNOCK OUT THE FOE ♪
♪ DON'T STAY AWAY
OR YOU'LL BE MISSING THE SHOW ♪
♪ IF YOU WANT
YOUR COUNTRY FREE ♪
♪ DON'T BE AN ABSENTEE ♪
- I NEEDED TO TAKE CARE
OF MY LAUNDRY.
I NEEDED TO DO...
HELP WITH THE HOUSEWORK
WHEN I GOT HOME.
I WAS LIVING
WITH MY HUSBAND'S MOTHER
AT THE TIME
AND VARIOUS OTHER RELATIVES.
WE WERE ALL SORT OF TOGETHER
FOR THE WAR.
AND THINGS HAD TO BE DONE,
AND THERE WAS NEVER ANY
UNDERSTANDING OR ANY RESPECT
REALLY GIVEN TO WOMEN
FOR THEIR LIFE
OUTSIDE OF THE WORKPLACE.
AND I ADMIT I MYSELF
NEVER EVEN GAVE MUCH THOUGHT
TO WOMEN WORKERS
WHO HAD CHILDREN.
HOW WERE THEY MANAGING?
- WHEN I CAME TO SAN FRANCISCO
TO WORK
AND WENT TO WORK
IN THE SHIPYARDS,
I HAD A LITTLE CHILD
THAT I HAD TO LEAVE BEHIND.
I HAD TO LEAVE HER
WITH MY MOTHER
BECAUSE UP HERE I DIDN'T THINK
I WOULD HAVE ANY PLACE
FOR HER TO STAY.
AND I WAS GOING
INTO A NEW COMMUNITY
IN A NEW TOWN,
AND I DIDN'T WANT TO BRING
MY CHILD WITH ME.
AND I LEFT HER WITH MY MOTHER,
AND IT WAS ONE
OF THE MOST AWFUL THINGS
I THINK I EVER DID
TO ANYBODY
BECAUSE EVEN TODAY
THAT CHILD HURTS
BECAUSE SHE FELT...
BECAUSE I PROMISED HER THAT,
GIVE ME ONE YEAR AWAY
AND I'LL COME BACK AND GET YOU,
AND THAT ONE YEAR STRETCHED
INTO TWO YEARS
AND FINALLY
INTO THREE YEARS
AND ENDED UP ALMOST FIVE YEARS
BEFORE I COULD GO BACK
AND GET HER.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT'S VERY BAD.
IF THERE HAD BEEN
ANY KIND OF CONDITIONS
UNDER WHICH I COULD HAVE BROUGHT
HER WITH ME,
I CERTAINLY
WOULD HAVE BROUGHT HER.
- BUT THE COMMUNITY
KNEW ABOUT THAT,
WAS PLANNING TO MEET THAT.
11 DAY NURSERIES,
MORE TO FOLLOW.
HERE, WOMEN CAN LEAVE
THEIR CHILDREN
WHILE THEY WORK,
CONFIDENT OF THE BEST OF CARE
IN THE MOST PLEASANT
OF SURROUNDINGS.
- I DON'T KNOW.
I NEVER HEARD OF ANY, YOU KNOW,
WHERE I COULD TAKE MY CHILDREN
ANYWAY.
THERE MOSTLY WERE PRIVATE ONES,
AND THEY WERE WAY OUT.
I'M SURE
THEY MUST HAVE HAD THEM.
I HAD TO PUT MY DAUGHTER
IN BOARDING SCHOOL,
AND THE OTHER ONE
WAS WITH HER DAD.
I'D ALWAYS HAD HER WITH ME.
AND TO HAVE TO SEND HER AWAY...
BUT I, YOU KNOW,
RAN INTO SO MANY BRICK WALLS,
YOU KNOW, KEEPING HER
IN PRIVATE HOMES AND EVERYTHING.
IF IT WASN'T ONE THING
THAT WAS HAPPENING,
IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE.
- MY KID WAS LITTLE.
AND SO I WORKED AT NIGHT.
AND SO I WOULD GET HOME
IN THE MORNING.
I DIDN'T HAVE A WASHING MACHINE,
SO I WASHED BY HAND,
HUNG THE CLOTHES ON THE LINE.
THEN I WOULD HAVE
TO CLEAN THE HOUSE,
BATHE THE BABY.
THEN I WOULD HAVE
TO GO SHOPPING.
- THERE WERE LOTS OF DISHES
EVERY NIGHT, POTS.
MY MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS NOT YOUNG.
I WOULD CERTAINLY NOT SEE HER
DO THE DISHES.
NOW MY BROTHER-IN-LAW
WHO WAS ALSO... HE WAS...
HE WORKED
AT THE BROOKLYN NAVY YARD.
AND I GUESS I JUST ACCEPTED IT...
AFTER DINNER HE WOULD
LIE DOWN ON THE COUCH
AND LISTEN TO JAZZ RECORDS,
AND I FELT THE NEED
TO PITCH IN IN THE KITCHEN.
- WHEN YOUR HUSBAND CAME HOME,
YOU KNOW, HE'D PROP HIS FEET UP
AND GOT A CAN OF BEER
WHILE YOU FIXED DINNER,
OR, EVEN IF WE WEREN'T WORKING
THE SAME SHIFTS,
YOU FIXED DINNER AND LEFT IT
WHERE IT WOULD BE CONVENIENT
FOR HIM TO GET.
THAT SORT OF THING.
SO IT WAS VERY HARD
FOR WOMEN TO REALLY PARTICIPATE
IN THE UNION MEETINGS.
- IT JUST GOT TOO MUCH,
AND I TRIED SO HARD
TO DO... MAKE THEM SEE
THAT TEN HOURS
WAS JUST TOO MUCH FOR ME.
I DIDN'T MIND DOING EIGHT
AND AN OCCASIONAL NINE,
BUT TEN WAS JUST TOO MUCH.
I JUST COULDN'T DO IT.
AND I WROTE GRIEVANCE
AFTER GRIEVANCE,
WHICH YOU JUST NEVER GET
ANYWHERE WITH IT.
- SOME WERE TOO TIRED
IN THE MORNING
TO FACE THE ASSEMBLY LINE
OR THE WORKBENCH.
SOME FOUND THAT DEFENSE WORK
INTERFERED WITH THEIR SHOPPING.
A FEW MEMBERS OF THE HIDDEN
ARMY, IT SEEMED,
HAD EARNED ENOUGH
FOR THE FUR COAT THEY COVETED
AND RETURNED
TO THEIR PREWAR EXISTENCE.
PERHAPS THE WAR NEWS
LOOKED SWELL
AND THE COMPULSION TO WORK
WAS DISSIPATED
IN THE CONFIDENT TALK OF VICTORY
JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
THE PAPERS REPORTED
A SLIGHT FALLING OFF
IN PRODUCTION.
THE KIDS NEEDED LOOKING AFTER,
AND THE HOUSE SOMEHOW
REFUSED TO RUN ITSELF
WHEN EIGHT HOURS A DAY
WERE SPENT AT THE PLANT.
BUT BY FAR
THE MOST COMMON REASON
WAS THAT WOMEN WERE
NOT ACCUSTOMED TO THE LONG HOURS
OF HARD WORK.
SHORTAGES APPEARED.
AMERICAN PLANES FOUND THEMSELVES
LACKING BEARING ASSEMBLIES.
OF A SUDDEN, THE WAR
WAS RIGHT IN THE AMERICAN HOME.
"THE GOVERNMENT REGRETS
TO INFORM..."
- NO.
NO.
- OUR WOMEN LEARNED...
LEARNED IN BITTER TEARS
AND HEARTACHE THAT IN WAR
THERE CAN BE NO SUCH THING
AS A SLIGHT FALLING OFF
IN PRODUCTION.
BECAUSE THERE'S NO SUCH THING
AS A SLIGHT DEATH.
- YOU KNOW, IF YOU EVEN TALKED
ABOUT THE UNION TOO MUCH,
YOU WERE KIND OF UNPATRIOTIC.
HOW DARE YOU TALK
ABOUT NOT WORKING OVERTIME
OR NOT DOING MORE
THAN YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO
WHEN OUR BOYS
WERE OVER THERE DYING FOR US?
YOU KNOW?
NOT FOR BUSINESS, BUT FOR US
THEY WERE DYING.
- ♪ ARMS FOR THE LOVE
OF AMERICA ♪
♪ WE'VE GOT TO GET
IN THE RACE ♪
♪ AND WORK AT A LIVELY PACE ♪
♪ THEY SAY OVER HERE
WE'VE NOTHING TO FEAR ♪
♪ BUT LET'S GET READY
JUST IN CASE ♪
♪ ARMS FOR THE LOVE OF AMERICA ♪
♪ AND FOR THE LOVE
OF EVERY MOTHER'S SON ♪
♪ OH, THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM ♪
♪ CAN BE LOST OR WON ♪
♪ BY THE MAN BEHIND THE MAN
BEHIND THE GUN ♪
♪ BY THE MAN
BEHIND THE MAN ♪
♪ BEHIND ♪
♪ THE GUN ♪
- I WAS WORKING
DOWN IN THE HOLE OF THE SHIP.
THERE WAS
ABOUT SIX FILIPINO MEN,
AND OVER THESE MEN WAS A
19-YEAR-OLD OFFICER OF THE SHIP.
AND THIS BIG WHITE GUY
WENT OVER AND STARTED TO KICK
THIS POOR FILIPINO.
AND NONE OF THE WHITE MEN
THAT WAS WORKING DOWN THERE
IN THE HOLE WITH ME
HAD SAID ONE WORD
TO THIS GUY,
AND I HAD SAT THERE,
AND I WAS GETTING MADDER
AND MADDER
AND MADDER
BY THE MINUTE.
I SPRANG TO MY FEET,
AND I TURNED ON MY TORCH,
AND I HAD A FLAME ABOUT SIX OR
SEVEN FEET OUT IN FRONT OF ME,
AND I WALKED UP TO HIM,
AND I SAID...
YOU WANT ME TO SAY
THE REAL LANGUAGE?
I SAID TO HIM, "YOU SO-AND-SO,
IF YOU GO... LIFT ONE MORE FOOT,
I'LL CUT YOUR GUTS OUT."
THAT WAS MY EXACT WORDS.
I WAS SO MAD WITH HIM.
AND THEN HE STARTS
TO TELL ME
THAT HE HAD BEEN TRAINED
IN BOOT CAMP
THAT ANY NATIONAL GROUP
WHO WAS DARK-SKINNED
WAS BENEATH ALL WHITE PEOPLE.
BUT HE STARTED TO CRY.
I BEGAN TO FEEL SORRY FOR HIM,
BECAUSE HE WAS CRYING,
HE WAS REALLY CRYING,
HE WAS SO FRIGHTENED.
AND I WAS FRIGHTENED.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING,
YOU KNOW.
BUT IN THE END
I TURNED MY TORCH OFF.
AND I SAT DOWN
ON THE STEPS WITH HIM.
ABOUT THAT TIME,
THE INTERCOM ON BOARD THE SHIP
STARTED TO ANNOUNCE,
"LYN CHILDS,
REPORT TO COLONEL HICKMAN
IMMEDIATELY."
SO I SAID,
"I GUESS THIS IS IT."
SO I WENT UP
TO COLONEL HICKMAN'S OFFICE.
AND BEHIND CAME ME
ALL OF THESE MEN,
THEY ALL LINED UP BEHIND...
AND I SAID,
"WHERE ARE YOU GUYS GOING?"
THEY SAID,
"WE'RE GOING WITH YOU."
HE SAYS, "I JUST WANTED
TO SEE LYN CHILDS."
AND THEY SAID,
"WELL, YOU SEE ALL OF US
"BECAUSE WE'RE ALL...
WE'RE ALL DOWN THERE.
"WE ALL DIDN'T HAVE GUTS ENOUGH
TO DO WHAT SHE DID,
AND WE'RE WITH HER."
SO HE SAID,
"COME INTO THIS OFFICE,"
AND HE CAME OUT AND HAD
ONE OF THE GUARDS
TAKE ME INSIDE THE OFFICE,
AND HE CLOSED THE DOOR REAL FAST
TO KEEP THEM OUT
AND HE SAYS,
"WHAT KIND OF COMMUNIST ACTIVITY
ARE YOU CARRYING ON
DOWN IN THE HOLE?"
AND I SAID, "COMMUNIST?
WHAT IS THAT?"
HE SAYS, "YOU KNOW
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
YOU'RE A COMM..."
I SAID, "WELL, IF COMMUNISTS
"OBJECT TO THE KIND OF TREATMENT
"THAT MAN WAS PUTTING
ON THOSE FILIPINOS
AND WOULD COME TO THEIR RESCUE,"
I SAID,
"THEN I AM THE BIGGEST COMMUNIST
YOU EVER SAW IN YOUR LIFE."
I SAID, "THAT IS GREAT.
I'M A COMMIE."
HE SAID,
"DON'T SAY THAT SO LOUD."
AND I SAID, "WELL, YOU ASKED ME
WAS I A COMMUNIST,
AND YOU'RE SAYING I AM,
AND I SAID... I'M AGREE..."
HE SAID, "SHH. HUSH"
HE SAID,
"DON'T SAY THAT SO LOUD."
HE SAYS, "I THINK YOU OUGHT
TO GET OUT OF HERE
AND GO BACK TO WORK,"
AND I SAID,
"WELL, YOU CALLED ME.
WHY DID YOU CALL ME?"
HE SAID, "WELL, NEVER MIND
WHAT I CALLED YOU FOR.
GO BACK TO WORK."
AND I HAD ALWAYS BEEN
ONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS
WHO FELT THAT I COULD HANDLE
MY OWN PROBLEMS MY OWN WAY
AND DO THINGS MYSELF.
I DIDN'T EVER ASK ANYBODY
TO DO ANYTHING
TO HELP ME OUT IN ANY WAY.
WELL, WHAT WAS THE RESULTS
OF GOING WITH ALL THOSE PEOPLE
GOING BEHIND ME
TAUGHT ME ONE THING...
THAT WHEN A BUNCH OF PEOPLE
COME WITH YOU,
THAT COULD MAKE A COLONEL SAY,
"HUSH, GET OUT OF HERE.
GO BACK TO WORK."
♪ ♪
OH, WHEN WE FINISHED
ONE OF THESE BEAUTIFUL SHIPS,
AND I REMEMBER THEM, TWO OF THEM
WENT DOWN THE WAY WITHOUT ME.
ONE OF THEM I RODE DOWN WITH IT.
IT WAS AN INSPIRING,
THRILLING THING.
HERE IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE DONE,
YOU'VE WORKED ON
AND, ONCE IT WENT DOWN
INTO THE WATER AND WITHSTOOD
THE TEST OF STAYING AFLOAT,
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE IT.
IT'S A THRILL.
YOUR WHOLE BODY
IS THRILLED FROM IT.
BECAUSE YOU'VE DONE SOMETHING
THAT'S WORTHWHILE.
- ONE NIGHT CLOSE TO CHRISTMAS,
WE WERE REALLY COLD,
IN SPITE OF WORKING
WITH THE TORCHES,
BECAUSE THE WIND WAS BLOWING
THROUGH THE BROKEN WINDOWS.
WE HAD... WE PUT STUFFED RAGS
INTO THE HOLES,
BUT IT WAS NO GOOD.
MY COWORKER,
WHO WAS A BLACK MAN
FROM THE SOUTH,
AND I WERE DOING
OUR USUAL TRIP AROUND THE BOMB
CASE WELDING THE SIDES.
AND THIS PARTICULAR NIGHT
I THINK I WAS FEELING
A LITTLE LOW ALTOGETHER.
THE WAR WAS TAKING
A LONG, LONG TIME,
AND THE MEN WERE AWAY,
NOT FOR A YEAR OR TWO,
BUT FOR THE DURATION,
WHICH MIGHT MEAN FOREVER.
AND IT WAS BEGINNING
TO WEAR ON ME.
AND MY PARTNER AS HE PASSED BY,
HE RAISED UP HIS GOGGLES
AND HE REALLY SMILED
INTO MY FACE,
AND HE SAID TO ME IN YIDDISH...
AND I LOOKED AT HIM,
AND IT WAS THE SWEETEST THING
HE COULD HAVE SAID TO ME
AT THAT MOMENT.
"WORK MAKES LIFE SWEET."
- EDITH STONER'S HUSBAND
IS IN ALASKA.
SHE TOOK THIS JOB
FOR THE DURATION.
HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR JOB,
MRS. STONER?
- I LOVE IT.
- HOW ABOUT AFTER THE WAR?
ARE YOU GONNA KEEP ON WORKING?
- I SHOULD SAY NOT.
WHEN MY HUSBAND COMES BACK,
I'M GONNA BE BUSY AT HOME.
- GOOD FOR YOU.
- LEE DUNNEY, WHO NOW WELDS ON
LANDING BARGES.
LEE, WHAT DID YOU USED TO DO?
- BELIEVE IT OR NOT,
I WAS A BABY NURSE.
- WELL, QUITE A CHANGE
TO THIS.
- YEAH, BUT THE HOURS
ARE MUCH SHORTER.
- WHAT ABOUT AFTER THIS WAR,
LEE?
- WELL, THIS JOB BELONGS
TO SOME SOLDIER.
AND, WHEN HE COMES BACK,
HE CAN HAVE IT.
- OH, THAT'S SWELL.
- CONFIDENT OWNER-PRESIDENT
BILL JACK
SPURS ON THE TROOPS
HE COMMANDS.
- THE COMING OF PEACE
WILL WORK NO UNEMPLOYMENT
HARDSHIPS ON YOU.
YOU WOMEN HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED
BECAUSE THE ARMED FORCES
HAVE CALLED YOUR HUSBANDS,
BROTHERS, OR SONS.
EACH RETURNING SERVICEMAN
WILL GET HIS JOB BACK
WHEN THIS WAR IS WON.
AND YOU WOMEN AND GIRLS
WILL GO HOME BACK TO BEING
HOUSEWIVES AND MOTHERS AGAIN
AS YOU PROMISED TO DO
WHEN YOU CAME TO WORK FOR US.
IF ALL INDUSTRY
WOULD ADOPT SIMPLE POLICY,
THERE WOULD BE NO SERIOUS
POSTWAR PROBLEM OF UNEMPLOYMENT.
- ♪ ONWARD, ON TO VICTORY ♪
♪ WORKING HARD FOR UNCLE SAM ♪
- TIME MARCHES ON.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
- IT WAS SOMETHING
YOU REALLY CANNOT IMAGINE.
I REMEMBER MY MOTHER-IN-LAW
RUNNING DOWN THE STREET,
AND SHE WAS SAYING
TO THE GROCER,
"YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET
THOSE PRICES FROM US ANYMORE,"
BECAUSE DURING THE WAR
PRICES ROSE UNCONSCIONABLY.
THEY TRIED TO HOLD
A LID ON THEM, BUT OFTEN...
SHE SAID,
"NO MORE TWO FOR 5.
IT'S GONNA BE FOUR FOR 5."
BUT SHE WAS WRONG.
ANYWAY, THE DAY WAS MARVELOUS.
- WE WERE GLAD THE WAR WAS OVER,
WE REALLY WERE,
'CAUSE, EVEN THOUGH YOU
DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY OVER THERE,
YOU'RE WORKING
WITH EVERYBODY ELSE
THAT HAD SOMEBODY OVER THERE.
AND THEY'RE SO GLAD,
'CAUSE, YOU KNOW,
THEIR HUSBANDS
AND BROTHERS ARE COMING HOME.
AND SO NATURALLY YOU JUST GET
IN THE SPIRIT OF IT WITH THEM.
YOU KNOW,
EVERYBODY'S CELEBRATING.
- MY HUSBAND WAS HOME.
HE HAD BEEN SENT HOME
A WEEK BEFORE.
AND IT WAS SIMPLY...
IT WAS SIMPLY MARVELOUS
FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE
AND NOT SO MARVELOUS FOR OTHERS
WHO HAD LOST LOVED ONES.
BUT THE FEELING OF THE DAY
WAS HAPPY,
AND, OF COURSE, AT THAT POINT,
WE FELT THAT EVEN THE LOSSES
HAD BEEN
FOR A VERY, VERY GOOD CAUSE.
WE HAD TO LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.
♪ ♪
- NOW HE RETURNS.
WHAT DOES HE WANT?
WITH THE SIGHT OF HOME
STILL BEYOND THE HORIZON,
HE'S UNDENIABLY THINKING
OF A NUMBER OF THINGS.
THE LONGEST SLEEP
IN THE SOFTEST FEATHER BED
THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN.
A PLATOON OF BATHING BEAUTIES,
WHO ONLY HAVE EYES FOR HIM.
BUT WHEN THE IDLE DREAM
HAS DRIFTED,
MOST OF ALL,
THE AVERAGE SOLDIER
WANTS SIMPLY A JOB.
HE RETURNS,
ARMED FOR A CIVILIAN FUTURE
WITH TRAINING AND SKILLS,
ADAPTED TO AN AMAZING VARIETY
OF CIVILIAN JOBS.
THIS MAN
AND A THOUSAND-ODD OTHERS OF HIM
NOW RETURN.
HE REPRESENTS ONCE AGAIN
THE BEST OF AMERICA,
THE MOST CAPABLE POTENTIAL
GROUP OF WORKERS
THE NATION HAS EVER KNOWN.
- THE WOMEN WERE LAID OFF FIRST,
AND THEN THE LESS SENIORED
BLACK MEN WERE LAID OFF NEXT.
AND THEN LAST BUT NOT...
AS TIME WENT ON,
FINALLY, MANY OF THE WHITE
WORKERS WERE LAID OFF.
BUT ORIGINALLY THE FIRST ONES
LAID OFF WAS WOMEN.
- APPARENTLY THE CONTRACT
FOR THE BOMB CASES
HAD BEEN FULFILLED,
AND WE WERE GIVEN NOTICE.
AND THE JOB WAS OVER.
- I KNEW THAT THE JOB WOULD
TERMINATE WHEN THE WAR WAS OVER,
AND THAT'S WHY I WENT...
I WORKED MY SHIFT, GO ON DOWN
TO THE WELDING SCHOOL,
AND I TOOK IT ALL.
YOU SEE, JUST TO BE A WELDER,
YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE IT ALL,
BUT I TOOK IT ALL,
THE ACETYLENE,
AND, OH, THERE WAS
ABOUT THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT
KINDS OF WELDING.
AND I WENT TO SCHOOL
AFTER WORK FOR FOUR HOURS
SO THAT, WHEN I GOT OUT
OF THERE,
I COULD GET A JOB
OF WELDING
BECAUSE I REALLY ENJOYED IT
AND I REALLY LIKED IT.
- I KNOW HOW TO RIVET.
I KNOW HOW TO WELD.
I KNOW HOW TO WORK
AN ASSEMBLY LINE.
I KNOW HOW TO RUN A DOLLY,
YOU KNOW, TO GET PARTS OUT.
I THOUGHT I HAD SEVERAL SKILLS
THAT WERE, YOU KNOW,
VERY GOOD AND I WOULDN'T HAVE
ANY PROBLEMS
GETTING A JOB ANYWHERE ELSE.
- WE BELIEVED THAT THE ECONOMY
WAS GOING TO BURGEON.
IT WOULD BE SPLENDID.
WE WOULD REBUILD THE CITIES.
WE WOULD DO ALL THESE THINGS
BECAUSE, BEFORE THE WAR,
WE DIDN'T HAVE
ALL THESE SKILLED PEOPLE.
BUT NOW WE HAD...
THE WAR WOULD BE OVER,
IT WOULD BE TIME TO DO ALL
THE GOOD AND BEAUTIFUL THINGS
FOR AMERICA
BECAUSE FASCISM WAS DESTROYED.
- ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS,
BUSINESSMEN HAVE BEEN
BUCKLING DOWN TO THE WORK
OF RESEARCH AND PLANNING.
HOW THE CHANGEOVER
TO PRODUCTION FOR PEACE
CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT
EVEN A TEMPORARY BREAKDOWN.
AT THE SAME TIME,
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
ARE FACED WITH THE TASK
OF HAVING TO FIND JOBS
FOR RETURNING VETERANS
WHO ARE NOW BEING DISCHARGED
FROM THE SERVICES
AT THE RATE OF 70,000
A MONTH.
- HOW DO YOU DO, MR. WATSON?
- HOW DO YOU DO?
- I HAVE ALL YOUR PAPERS HERE.
YOU TAKE THIS SLIP
OVER TO BISHOP'S.
THEY NEED A MAN
IN THE TOOL CHECKING ROOM THERE.
I KNOW YOU'RE QUALIFIED.
AND YOU'RE FIRST.
- WELL, THANKS A LOT.
- INFORMED INDUSTRIALISTS
BELIEVE THAT,
WITH THE COMING OF PEACE,
THERE WILL BE A MARKET
FOR ALL THEY CAN PRODUCE,
NOT ONLY IN THE UNITED STATES,
BUT ABROAD.
AND, PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANT,
THOSE UNDERDEVELOPED REGIONS
OF ASIA AND AFRICA,
TO WHOSE PEOPLE WAR HAS BROUGHT
NEW GLIMPSES
OF MODERN INDUSTRIAL
CIVILIZATION.
FROM THESE LANDS
CAN COME RAW MATERIALS
AMERICAN INDUSTRIES
ALREADY CONSUME
IN VAST QUANTITIES.
ALL SURVEYS HAVE REVEALED
AN IMMENSE DEMAND
AMONG THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
FOR CONSUMERS' GOODS.
- THE FIRST THING
I'M GOING TO DO AFTER THE WAR
IS GET A VACUUM CLEANER
AND A MAID TO RUN IT.
- MILLIONS OF AMERICANS,
THE SURVEYS SHOW,
ARE WAITING FOR A CHANCE
TO BUY THE NEW PRODUCTS
AND NEW GADGETS THEY HAVE BEEN
TOLD WILL MAKE LIFE EASIER
AND PLEASANTER.
TODAY INDUSTRIALISTS ARE
RESOLVED THAT ALL EMPLOYABLE
MEN AND WOMEN,
ALL HOMECOMING VETERANS,
SHALL FIND THE POSTWAR JOBS
THAT WILL SECURE FOR THEM
THEIR SELF-RESPECT,
THEIR LIVING,
AND THEIR NATION'S FUTURE.
- THEY WANTED TO PUT
THE WOMEN IN SEWING,
BECAUSE, IN SPECIFYING
THAT THEY HAD TO USE
THESE SEWING POWER MACHINES,
THEY KNEW A LOT OF WOMEN
DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO USE THEM.
AND THEY JUST GIVE YOU
YOUR MATERIAL AND SAY,
"THIS IS WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO,"
AND THEY COME BACK
IN A FEW MINUTES,
AND, "THIS IS ALL YOU GOT DONE?"
MAYBE YOU FINALLY MANAGED
TO SEE WHAT GOES WHERE
AND MAYBE DO IT A LITTLE BIT,
AND THEN THEY... RIGHT AWAY
THEY'LL DISQUALIFY YOU,
'CAUSE, WELL,
"YOU'LL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE
GET SOMETHING YOU CAN DO,
'CAUSE YOU CAN'T DO THIS."
- THERE WAS AN AD IN THE PAPER,
AND I HEARD TOO
THAT THEY WERE NEEDING WELDERS
AT MARE ISLAND.
SO I TOOK MY CARD
AND ALL MY CREDENTIALS
AND EVERYTHING,
AND I WENT OUT THERE,
AND I LAID MY PAPERS
ON THE DESK,
AND HE LOOKED AT 'EM,
AND HE SAID, "ALL RIGHT."
HE SAID, "IF YOU WAS A MAN,
WE'D HIRE YOU,
BUT WE CAN'T HIRE YOU.
YOU'RE A WOMAN."
- THE BIGGEST THING I FELT
WAS THE FACT THAT NOW
I HAD JUST TO GO BACK
TO THE FIELD OF SEARCHING
FOR ANOTHER JOB
TO MAKE A LIVING
WITH NO INCOME,
NO NOTHING COMING IN,
AND YOU'RE WALKING THE STREET,
GOING FROM PLACE TO PLACE
LOOKING FOR A JOB.
IT WASN'T LIKE A DANCE
IN AN OPERA.
THE MEN CAME HOME BEAT UP.
THE MEN CAME HOME WITH PROBLEMS.
THEY GAVE THEM FREE ADS
IN THE NEWSPAPERS
LOOKING FOR JOBS.
IT WAS PATHETIC.
AND WE WERE NO LONGER
COMRADES IN ARMS.
WE WERE COMPETITORS
FOR WHAT LITTLE THERE WAS.
IT WAS A VERY SHARP CONTRAST
INDEED,
BECAUSE THERE WAS
A LOT OF MONEY AROUND,
BUT IT WASN'T IN OUR POCKETS.
I SORT OF WENT
TO A FEW PLACES,
WALKED AROUND,
LOOKED UP NAMES,
WENT TO THE STATE EMPLOYMENT
AGENCY,
BUT THERE WERE NO WELDING JOBS.
AND THEN I STARTED TO WALK
AROUND MY OWN NEIGHBORHOOD
IN BROOKLYN,
AND I WENT INTO ONE PLACE
WHERE THEY USED TO DO
ORNAMENTAL IRONWORK,
AND I GUESS
THEY HAD WAR CONTRACTS,
AND I THOUGHT, WELL, MAYBE THIS
WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS,
IT WAS GONNA CONTINUE, BUT THEY
REALLY JUST LAUGHED AT ME.
IT WAS THE SAME OLD THING.
IT WAS JUST, YOU KNOW,
BEING A WOMAN,
IT WAS OVER FOR US, YES.
- THE FAMILY WAS SOLIDLY FOUNDED
ON THE FATHER
AS PATRIARCH AND BREADWINNER
AND ON THE MOTHER AS COOK,
HOUSEKEEPER,
AND NURSE OF THE CHILDREN.
ONE OF THE TRENDS
OF MODERN LIFE
WHICH HAS BEEN CITED
AS MOST DISRUPTIVE
OF MARRIAGE IS THE INCREASING
ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE OF WOMEN.
TODAY U.S. INDUSTRY IS EMPLOYING
HUNDREDS OF WOMEN WHO,
BEFORE THE WAR,
WERE HOMEMAKERS
DEVOTING THEIR FULL TIME
TO THEIR FAMILIES
AND THEIR FAMILY
RESPONSIBILITIES.
EVERYWHERE, CHILDREN OF WORKING
PARENTS ARE BEING LEFT
WITHOUT ADEQUATE SUPERVISION
OR RESTRAINT.
TODAY THE WOMAN
WITH THE POSITION IN BUSINESS
EQUAL TO A SUCCESSFUL MAN'S
IS ECONOMICALLY ABLE
TO TERMINATE HER MARRIAGE
IF SHE IS SO MINDED
SINCE SHE IS
HER OWN BREADWINNER.
BUT ARE SUCH WOMEN
REALLY BETTER OFF?
STRONGLY AGAINST CAREERS FOR
WOMEN IS DR. MARYNIA FARNHAM,
NOTED PHYSICIAN AND COAUTHOR
OF THE BESTSELLER
MODERN WOMAN: THE LOST SEX.
- CATASTROPHIC SOCIAL FORCES
HAVE PROPELLED AMERICAN WOMEN
AWAY FROM FEMININITY
AND INTO CAREERS
AT TERRIFIC COST
TO THEMSELVES AND SOCIETY.
ABANDONING THEIR FEMININE ROLE
HAS MADE WOMEN UNHAPPY BECAUSE
IT HAS MADE THEM FRUSTRATED.
IT HAS MADE CHILDREN UNHAPPY
BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE
MATERNAL LOVE,
AND IT HAS MADE
THEIR HUSBANDS UNHAPPY
BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE
REAL WOMEN AS PARTNERS.
INSTEAD, THEIR WIVES
HAVE BECOME THEIR RIVALS.
- THEY HAD SOLD US
A BILL OF GOODS.
THEY HAVE TRAINED US.
WE DID WHAT WE HAD
REALLY BEEN SET OUT TO DO.
AND EVERYTHING ELSE
WAS SOMETHING
THAT WE HAD WISHED TO DO.
THERE WERE NO PLANS...
WHEREVER THESE PLANS ARE MADE,
TO KEEP US.
AND THIS WAS VERY CLEAR
TO ME BY THEN.
SO I JUST TOOK MY NEXT STEP
BECAUSE I WAS A WORKING PERSON.
NOT ONLY A WELDER,
I WAS A WORKING PERSON,
SOMEONE WHO HAD TO KEEP WORKING.
- YOU HAVE A LOT
OF RESPONSIBILITIES,
ESPECIALLY A WIDOW WOMAN,
A LONE WOMAN.
MY CHILDREN
HAD TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.
AND I'D BOUGHT A LITTLE HOME.
IT HAD TO BE PAID FOR.
I HAD TO GET A JOB
SOMEWHERE, SOMEHOW.
I KNEW THAT.
SO THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING
ABOUT WHEN I LEFT THERE.
I GOT A JOB IN A RESTAURANT
WORKING IN THE KITCHEN.
HOT, HARD WORK.
HEAVY LIFTING.
IT WAS A LOT HARDER
THAN WORKING IN THE SHIPYARD
AND A LOT LESS PAY.
I WORKED THERE 17 YEARS
IN THAT BIG KITCHEN,
17 YEARS TO THE DAY.
- I HAD A DAUGHTER
I HAD TO FEED.
SO AFTER I COULDN'T GET
THESE OTHER JOBS,
WELL, THEN I HAD TO FALL BACK
ON THE ONLY OTHER THING I KNEW,
AND THAT WAS DOING
DOMESTIC WORK,
AND IT WAS A VERY DEFEATING
THING FOR ME, VERY.
- I GOT A JOB
IN COSGRAVE'S DEPARTMENT STORE
WORKING AS A STOCK GIRL.
WELL, THEY HAD BLACK PEOPLE
WORKING IN THE STORES,
BUT THEY ALL WORKED
BEHIND THE SCENES,
IN THE TOILETS AS MAIDS,
IN THE STOCKROOMS
AS HANGING UP STOCK
AND KEEPING THE STOCK
IN ORDER,
PRESSING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
NO, THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE
PRESSERS.
- SO I WENT TO THE AIRPORT
AND GOT A JOB OUT THERE
RIGHT BACK IN THE CAFETERIA.
AND I COULD ALWAYS GET
THESE JOBS,
EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T WANT 'EM,
BUT ANY TIME
THERE'S A RESTAURANT JOB
OR A DISHWASHING JOB
OR COOKING JOB,
I ALWAYS FELT LIKE BLACKS
COULD ALWAYS GET THOSE,
'CAUSE THEY SAVE
THOSE JOBS FOR US.
- I DID MIMEOGRAPHING,
AND THEN THEY TOOK IN A NEW
MACHINE CALLED DEXIGRAPHING,
AND THAT WAS
SORT OF INTERESTING.
THEY TAUGHT ME DARKROOM WORK.
I LIKED WELDING BETTER
BECAUSE IT WAS A SPECIAL THING.
AS I SAID,
AT THE END OF THE DAY,
I ALWAYS FELT
I ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING.
IT WAS GOOD.
THERE WAS A PRODUCT.
THERE WAS SOMETHING TO BE SEEN.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN... IT WOULD
HAVE BEEN THE SAME WAY...
WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE WAR.
ALL I REALLY WANTED
WAS ONE DAY TO MAKE
A VERY BEAUTIFUL
ORNAMENTAL GATE.
THAT WAS SOMETHING
I WANTED TO DO.
I STILL THINK OF IT... ABOUT IT.
WHEN I PASS A BEAUTIFUL GATE,
I SAY,
"WAS THAT SO MUCH TO WANT?"
♪ ♪
- IN THE PAST YEAR, AN ESTIMATED
1 1/4 MILLION NEW FAMILIES
AND HOUSEHOLDS WERE ESTABLISHED.
TO THESE AND OTHER FAMILIES,
ALMOST 4 MILLION BABIES
WERE BORN LAST YEAR,
REPRESENTING A RISE
OF MORE THAN 50%
IN THE U.S. BIRTHRATE
OVER THAT OF PREWAR YEARS,
FOR MARRIAGE AND THE FOUNDING
OF A FAMILY HOLD OUT TODAY
AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE
A GREATER PROMISE
OF SELF-REALIZATION
THAN ANY OTHER COURSE IN LIFE.
- OH, YES, YES,
EVERYBODY WAS HAVING BABIES.
I MEAN, AFTER THE WAR,
MY GOD.
IT WAS LIKE A DELUGE OF BABIES.
WHEN I WENT TO HAVE
MY FIRST BABY,
THERE WASN'T EVEN ROOM.
PEOPLE WERE HAVING...
WERE DOING LABOR IN THE HALLS.
I MEAN, IT WAS REALLY...
IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.
OH, YES, EVERYBODY,
EVERYBODY AND HER SISTER
WAS HAVING A BABY.
- THE ARTICLES IN THE MAGAZINES
CHANGED.
THEY STARTED TELLING YOU
HOW TO COOK THINGS
THAT TOOK A LONG TIME,
YOU KNOW.
DURING THE WAR,
THEY WAS TELLING YOU
HOW TO COOK DISHES
THAT YOU COULD COOK QUICK
AND GET ON TO WORK.
NOW THEY WERE TELLING YOU
HOW TO COOK DISHES
THAT TOOK A FULL DAY.
THERE WERE MORE ARTICLES
IN THERE
ABOUT RAISING YOUR CHILDREN
AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL
DEVELOPMENT
OF YOUR CHILDREN.
THEY NEVER MENTIONED THAT,
YOU KNOW,
ANY PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT
BEFORE THE WAR.
THE MOVIES CHANGED TO ROMANTIC,
KIND OF MACHO WARS.
THE MAN WAS BACK HOME.
AND THE WOMAN WAS SUBMISSIVE,
AND THE MAN WAS MACHO.
BEFORE, BOTH OF THEM
WAS MACHO.
THE NURSE WAS DYING
WITH THE SOLDIER IN THE FIELD.
NOW IT WAS A WHOLE DIFFERENT...
A WHOLE DIFFERENT TACT
AND A WHOLE DIFFERENT KIND
OF PROPAGANDA
TO LET WOMEN KNOW
WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING.
- I KNOW THAT LOTS OF THE WOMEN
WHO WENT TO TRAINING WITH ME
AND WHO WORKED WITH ME
BELIEVED THAT WE WERE
THE NEW WOMAN.
WE BELIEVED IT.
I THINK TO AMERICA AT LARGE,
WHILE THEY MAY HAVE KNOWN
WHAT OUR CONTRIBUTION WAS
TO THE PRODUCTION
OF THIS COUNTRY,
WE WERE LARGELY A JOKE,
A BIG JOKE,
A SHAPELY GIRL WITH A HOT SIGN
ON HER PANTS,
A GIRL WHO WAS QUIVERING
FOR HER MAN TO COME HOME
AND GO BACK TO THE KITCHEN.
THAT'S EXACTLY THE PICTURE
THAT WAS GIVEN,
AND I THINK
THAT THEY PREPARE WOMEN
PSYCHOLOGICALLY
FOR WHATEVER ROLE
THE SOCIETY FEELS
AT THAT PARTICULAR POINT
THEY WANT HER TO PLAY.
AFTER LOSING SO MANY MEN,
AMERICA WANTED BABIES.
AND WE WANTED BABIES.
IT'S OKAY.
BUT WE GAVE UP EVERYTHING
FOR THAT.
WE GAVE UP EVERYTHING.
♪ ♪
- WE WERE REALLY A REALLY
SMART-LOOKING GROUP OF LADIES,
AND WE ALL LOVED ONE ANOTHER.
AND I HOPE FOR THAT FEELING
IN THIS COUNTRY AGAIN,
BUT NOT FOR A WAR.
♪ ♪
- ♪ WHILE OTHER GIRLS ATTEND
THEIR FAVORITE COCKTAIL BAR ♪
♪ SIPPING DRY MARTINIS,
MUNCHING CAVIAR ♪
♪ THERE'S A GIRL WHO'S REALLY
PUTTING THEM TO SHAME ♪
♪ ROSIE IS HER NAME ♪
♪ ALL THE DAY LONG,
WHETHER RAIN OR SHINE ♪
♪ SHE'S A PART
OF THE ASSEMBLY LINE ♪
♪ SHE'S MAKING HISTORY,
WORKING FOR VICTORY ♪
♪ ROSIE, RRRRR,
THE RIVETER ♪
♪ KEEPS A SHARP LOOKOUT
FOR SABOTAGE ♪
♪ SITTING UP THERE
ON THE FUSELAGE ♪
♪ THAT LITTLE FRAIL CAN DO
MORE THAN A MALE CAN DO ♪
♪ ROSIE, RRRRR, THE RIVETER ♪
♪ ROSIE'S GOT A BOYFRIEND,
CHARLIE ♪
♪ CHARLIE, HE'S A MARINE ♪
♪ ROSIE IS PROTECTING CHARLIE ♪
♪ WORKING OVERTIME
ON THE RIVETING MACHINE ♪
♪ WHEN THEY GAVE HER
A PRODUCTION E ♪
♪ SHE WAS AS PROUD
AS A GIRL COULD BE ♪
♪ THERE'S SOMETHING TRUE ABOUT,
RED, WHITE, AND BLUE ABOUT ♪
♪ ROSIE, RRRRR, THE RIVETER ♪
♪ EVERYONE STOPS
TO ADMIRE THE SCENE ♪
♪ ROSIE AT WORK ON THE B-19 ♪
- ♪ SHE'S NEVER TWITTERY,
NERVOUS OR JITTERY ♪
- ♪ ROSIE, ROSIE,
THE RIVETER ♪
♪ ♪