These real-life Rosie the Riveters changed the face of labor

World War II women at work — (Image credit: (CC BY: Library of Congress))

When America entered World War II after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, it did so fully, committing all of its assets. As the men stepped into battle across Europe and in the Pacific theater, women entered the workforce, occupying the roles of their husbands, brothers, and sons.

Nearly 350,000 women volunteered to serve in the army both at home and abroad. Those housewives and students were suddenly in uniform, driving trucks, repairing airplanes, fixing engines, rigging parachutes, and manning aircrafts that acted as flying targets during training. It was a whole new world and they rose to the challenge, even though their efforts would be largely ignored, their jobs void once the men returned home from war.

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Lauren Hansen produces The Weekâ€™s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.