A Riveting Revolutionby Eva Pasco Author of "Underlying Notes" 
The Feminist
Movement can thank Rosie the Riveter for flexing her muscles as a
show of strength and independence to empower women. While the
men went off to fight the battles of WWII, these women
carried our nation on their backs making a contribution
to the war effort by working in factories. When their
Johnnies came marching back home after the war, these
same gals resumed their traditional roles of
homemaker and motherhood, giving birth to a generation of Baby
Boomers rivited with a rebellious attitude.
Since the Sixties
were a prime time of protest against the Vietnam War, and
advocation of equal rights be they Gay, Student, or Civil--why not
equality for women while we were at it? Empowered Daughters
of the Riveters revolted against male supremacy in a
capitalistic society where discrimination in wages and promotions
ran rampant. I never aspired to climbing the corporate
ladder, but the view from the community college rooftop onto
the grassy knoll encompassed a narrow sexist
strait predominated by teaching, nursing, or
socialwork.
I doubt our
riveting Rosies in their oversized dungarees were ever
accused of being a sex symbol while earning a day's wages. Yet,
their Sixties Chicks daughters, many of whom went braless and
wore see-through blouses and miniskirts, still wanted to
be taken seriously on the job. As Betty Rollin put it,
"Scratch most feminists and underneath there is a woman who longs
to be a sex object. The difference is that is not all she
wants to be."
Copies of Underlying Notes by
Eva Pasco may be purchased here:
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.jpg "The 60s - Carl - 1968 - Vietnam")
