Post #34 – Rosie’s Daughters: The “First Woman To” Generation Tells Its Story by Matilda Butler and Kendra Bonnett

About a month ago, we received an order for our Rosie the Riveter Legacy Bandanas from the Business and Professional Women of Nevada County. We quickly put them in the mail and then sent an email asking what they were going to do with all the bandanas. It turns out that they were participating as a team in an American Cancer Society relay race.

But I’ll let Karin Kleinhans tell you what they did and the honor they won:

These are the photos from the Business and Professional Women of Nevada County as we participated in the 2012 Relay for Life event for the American Cancer Society. Our theme was “ We can do it for the Cure.” I am happy to tell you that our team won the “ Spirit Award”! The Rosie bandanas stand out, and we could spot each other really easily!

Kendra and I think there’s nothing better than posting pictures of women showing their spirit and living empowered lives.

Congratulations Karin. Please pass on our congrats to your entire team. We think you all look terrific.

Rosie would be proud.

Post #35 – Rosie’s Daughters: The “First Woman To” Generation Tells Its Story by Matilda Butler and Kendra Bonnett

By now you know the news. Nora Ephron, a Rosie’s Daughter, died last week (June 26, 2012) at the age of 71. Born just a few months before Pearl Harbor, Ephron might be called an iconic member of the “First Woman To” Generation, those women born between 1940 and 1945. During her life, she exemplified Rosie the Riveter’s Can-Do attitude. She was a journalist turned screenwriter (she told Charlie Rose that she knew she had to become a screenwriter if she wanted to support herself as a writer), filmmaker, director, producer, novelist, memoirist, and blogger. And these were just her professional roles as she was also a wife, mother and dear friend to many.

Ephron is probably well-known to you for her romantic comedies — When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail as well as Julie and Julia, her final film. But she also wrote Silkwood, Heartburn, Cookie, My Blue Heaven, This Is My Life, Mixed Nuts, Michael, Strike! and several more.

Women in Hollywood have had a difficult time breaking into the upper ranks as screenwriters, directors and producer. Like Rosie the Riveter, Nora Ephron didn’t take “no” for an answer.

She was diagnosed with leukemia in 2006 but told only her family. She was not a complainer and continued her Can-Do attitude right to the end.

Nora Ephron will be missed.

Post #33 – Rosie’s Daughters: The “First Woman To” Generation Tells Its Story by Matilda Butler and Kendra Bonnett

The Ad Council celebrated its 70th birthday recently and featured some of its most famous campaigns. Rosie the Riveter wearing one of our Rosie the Riveter’s Legacy Bandanas can be seen in many of the photos. We hope you’ll enjoy these and that they will be a reminder of the strength and courage of Rosie and all women.

If you want your own Rosie the Riveter Legacy Bandana and Employment Badge, just click here.

Post #32 – Rosie’s Daughters: The “First Woman To” Generation Tells Its Story by Matilda Butler and Kendra Bonnett

We love getting photos from women who have purchased some of our Rosie the Riveter Gear. Here’s a special one. We think you’ll like Rachael’s story. Maybe it will give you an idea of a new time of year that you will wear a Rosie the Riveter bandana. We’ve been thinking that July 4th would be another great time to celebrate the strength, courage, and empowerment of that iconic woman.

You know, Rosie turned 70 this year. The Rosie poster was created in 1942.

My mom purchased the Legacy Bandana for a costume for Thanksgiving this year! My family started a new tradition by dressing up as famous people in US history and I immediately thought of Rosie! The bandana was perfect and everyone loved my costume! -Rachael Felt

Post #31 – Rosie’s Daughters: The “First Woman To” Generation Tells Its Story by Matilda Butler and Kendra Bonnett

Here’s Angela Ardetto’s story about wearing her red and white polka dot bandana.

I was Rosie the Riveter for Halloween. It was a huge success….I got a lot of compliments.  I got the idea from the Pink Video “Raise Your Glass” and researched Rosie from that and was even more intrigued about the story behind Rosie!  I’m thrilled that I ordered the original bandana from your company and how gracious you were about getting it to me in time.  Thanks again!

Post #30 – Rosie’s Daughters: The “First Woman To” Generation Tells Its Story by Matilda Butler and Kendra Bonnett

Although many women enjoy wearing their Rosie the Riveter red and white polka dot bandana throughout the year, Halloween in a special time to show it off. Today we continue our series
of posts that tell you the stories behind the decision that some women made to wear our Rosie the Riveter Legacy Bandana. We were impressed and think you will find them interesting as well

This story comes from Heather Minenna:

I was a hit on Halloween! As for my choice of costume, here goes:

Rosie the Riveter is a heroine, someone who symbolizes strength and empowerment to all women. She gave all women hope when there wasn’t even a gleam to hold onto. This is the first time I had ever dressed up for Halloween in my entire adult life (mind you, I am 33). When I saw her I knew I wanted to be her because she was someone I could relate to. I think that is why this costume worked so well for me.
 
Thanks again Rosies Daughters for making this day great for me!!

By the way, on our Women’s Memoirs website, we’re featuring words that first appeared in the Oxford English Dictionary during World War II. They are fascinating and fun. We post a new word almost every day. Be sure to check them out.

Post #29 – Rosie’s Daughters: The “First Woman To” Generation Tells Its Story by Matilda Butler and Kendra Bonnett

Many women enjoy wearing their Rosie the Riveter red and white polka dot bandana throughout the year. Today we want to share with you the story behind an all-female robotics team — wearing their Rosie the Riveter Legacy Bandanas.

The story is told by Candace Schneggenburger, one of the high school team’s coaches. Actually, she was a coach to the school’s first ever all girls robotics team. She told me that the “Team’s identity is tied to Rosie’s ‘We can do it!’ attitude.” She coached the 20-girl team (out of a school of 700 students).

The girls had an AWESOME time competing with our robot on Friday, December 2! They were the only all girls team at the event out of 24 teams. They even made the local evening news. I’ve attached the link to the video clip and some pictures.

The Rosie the Riveter Legacy Bandanas were an awesome addition to our team and we used the “We Can Do It!” slogan frequently. We also used one of the bandanas to cover our engineering notebook!

Candace Schneggenburger
District Lead Science Teacher
Palmyra-Macedon High School
Palmyra, NY

In addition to photos of the team at work, Candace also shared a news clip. We hope you also enjoy seeing the team.

Post #28 – Rosie’s Daughters: The “First Woman To” Generation Tells Its Story by Matilda Butler and Kendra Bonnett

Although many women enjoy wearing their Rosie the Riveter red and white polka dot bandana throughout the year, Halloween in a special time to show it off. Today we are beginning a series
of posts that tell you the story behind the decision that some women made to wear our Rosie the Riveter Legacy Bandana. We were impressed and think you will find them interesting.

I had heard about Rosie as I grew up, but I was introduced to her on a much more personal level when I took a group to visit the USS BATFISH SUBMARINE in Muskogee, OK.  It was then that I had a real understanding of the demand that was laid upon our American ladies and the results we provided…it was a moment that gave me true pleasure to be a woman. It was good to see, when our nation was at a vulnerable point, it was the women of America that put the strength in our feet, our legs, our muscle and in our backbone.  

My generation, and my daughters’ generation, did not have the demands Rosie faced. We actually had an overflow of convenience. But I can still relate to her image and how important it is to work hard, with our mind and bodies, supporting our men, our children, our nation to be the best it can be from the very inside out.

From the days of old, even back in the Old Testament, a woman of virtue was not one who just looked pretty and kept house, but one who was in the work force on various levels, supporting all who were around her, with her wisdom and with her skills. In my world, I work alongside my husband doing whatever it takes to make our dreams, our lives, and our world a better place.

I’d like to think there’s a bit of Rosie in me, and in my three daughters as well. WE CAN DO IT!! 🙂

Grace to you always,
Rebecca Olstroem

Post #27 – Rosie’s Daughters: The “First Woman To” Generation Tells Its Story by Matilda Butler and Kendra Bonnett

Whenever I read about a Rosie’s Daughter, a woman born between 1940 and 1945, I tuck the article into a file folder. I like the longevity of the careers and aspirations and contributions of these amazing women. Recently, I read an article in The Wall Street Journal about the void left by Oprah Winfrey’s departure from daytime television. It seems there are several who want to grab that audience — Dr. Phil, Regis and Kelly, Ellen Degeneres, Anderson Cooper and Katie Couric.

But who has actually increased in viewership? None of the names I just mentioned. Instead, it is Judge Judy who continues to gain viewers and who has the largest number of daytime viewers in the 25-54 age range. She has more than 2.75 million.

Judge Judy is an example of so many of Rosie’s Daughters, those women born during World War II, who continue to excel at what they do. I have now interviewed more women from this generation that Kendra and I call “The First Woman To” Generation to look at the decade of their 60s and their goals for their 70s. We’ll soon release a new version of Rosie’s Daughters: The “First Woman To” Generation that will continue the new chapter about these women’s lives.

NOTE: Some of you have sent us emails about our Rosie the Riveter Legacy Bandana. Yes, we still have some and are shipping Priority Mail so that you can have one for your Halloween costume. Show the world you’re an empowered woman. To order, just click here.

Post #26 – Rosie’s Daughters: The “First Woman To” Generation Tells Its Story by Matilda Butler and Kendra Bonnett

While conducting research for our collective memoir, Rosie’s Daughters, I read the story of Bernadine Healy and even mentioned her in our book. Bernadine Healy was one of the “First Woman To” generation of women — born during World War II.

A renowned cardiologist, Healy earned her degree from the Harvard School of Medicine. Like many other women in the Rosie’s Daughters generation, she had few role models and had to make it in a man’s world. For example, she was one of only ten women out of 120 students in her class.

Healy eventually became the first woman to serve as director of the National Institutes of Health. During her tenure there, she was responsible for the first serious focus on women’s health, looking into health concerns of women from mid-life on. Known as the Women’s Health Initiative, this $500 million program that extended over 10 years did much to bring attention to women’s health issues that researchers had previously ignored.

On August 6, Bernadine Healy died at the age of 67. Click here to read more her life story.