Naomi Parker, Inspiration for the Most Famous Feminist Poster, Passes Away at 96

Naomi Parker Friley, a woman said to be the inspiration behind the cultural symbol "Rosie the Riveter" during World War II in America, passed away at the age of 96 in Washington state. According to researchers and experts, several women have been introduced as the inspirational symbol of "Rosie the Riveter," but two years ago, a researcher from Seton Hall University focused on Naomi Parker Friley as the primary inspiration. James G. Kimball published his findings in the journal Rhetoric and Public Affairs, stating that a photo of Mrs. Friley inspired the creation of the poster titled "We Can Do It!" This poster has become one of the most famous feminist symbols. Naomi Parker Friley was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Allies, she went to work at the Alameda Naval Air Station in California, becoming the first woman to work there. The U.S. Department of Defense – the Pentagon – paid tribute to Mrs. Friley on Tuesday, February 22, stating on Twitter: "We honor the memory of Naomi Parker Friley, who inspired 'Rosie the Riveter.'" Naomi Parker Friley had been suffering from cancer and passed away in Longview, Washington. A photo of her at work led to the creation of the famous "We Can Do It!" poster. Over time, this poster became a symbol of social change during the war, as there was a need for labor. Women stepped out of their conventional job roles and entered fields that had previously been male-dominated. This poster was designed by American artist Howard Miller, depicting a woman in blue work overalls, a red bandana with white polka dots, and her hair tied back, with a clenched fist. According to historical documents from the National Museum of American History, the electrical products company Westinghouse commissioned this poster to boost worker morale and displayed it on the walls of its factories for a time. After the war, the role and poster faded until the 1980s when the feminist movement revived it, and the name "Rosie the Riveter" was defined for it, bringing it back into the cultural sphere.