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."
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