Friday, December 10, 2010
Quote
"Television brought the brutality of war into the comfort of the living room. Vietnam was lost in the living rooms of America--not on the battlefields of Vietnam. " ------Marshall McLuhan, 1975
Blunt reality of war in Vietnam
It was perhaps the most controversial cover for LIFE magazine, which usually steered clear of controversy. Paul Schutzers captured this image of a VietCong prisoner gagged and bound, being taken prisoner by American forces during the Vietnam War. Photography and news coverage like this helped to turn the American public against the Vietnam war.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
My reason for choosing this topic.
My reason for choosing this topic is because being from Southeast Asia, the effects of the Vietnam war is still felt in present day in the ASEAN reigion. And from reading this chapter in Mightier than a Sword, I gained a much deeper insight into the history,politics and most importantly importance of television that played into the war. This chapter highlights how television is the most powerful medium in history. That is truly undeniable, even though pictures in print are worth a thousand words, images that are communicated through television are vivid in color and motions and conveys more than a thousand words to its viewers. The television had the tremendous power to reach into every corner of American society to send them the true message of the war. Without censorship. It communicated words through it's footages that could not otherwise be conveyed via words in print. Americans depended on the television as their major news source when the reality of the battlefield was brought to them to their living rooms through the television. When people saw blood on their screens in all its glory, they were exposed to the reality and brutalities of war. Over the few years, television journalists Greg Harris and Jack Perkins from NBC narrated the war to their viewers with vivid and emotional descriptions completed with bloody scenes, no one could turn their eyes away from their television sets. However, Americans soon realized the truth about the Vietnam war and started changing their opinions and withdrawing the support for the war from the Tet offenses, the Zippo cigarette lighter which torched an entire Vietnamese village and a Southern Vietnamese, a U.S. ally who shot a prisoner in cold blood without trail. All of these images were brought to American's viewers and stunned the entire Nation and not to mention, the entire world. Walter Cronkite, a legendary journalist, was determined to uncover the truth about what really was going on and flew across the world. His statement to America through television was that no one really was winning the war, the power of his words and status as a legendary journalist carried such tremendous weight that Johnson had to step down. With the coverage of protests and protesters dying due to finding out about Nixon sending in more troops, this was conveyed through the media to the public and sent a message about morals. This shows us how extremely powerful the news media is, that it can literally shape and determine history. Through what they say, Americans chose not to continue with the war. Without the help of the news media and television, the war would probably have continued longer than it did with never ending problems and limited solutions. Journalists are some of the most powerful people in this world and without them reporting the realities of the war, things might have turned out very different with extremely negative consequences. Much worse than the present day effects of the Vietnam War. Exposing the reality of the war, bloodbath and all to the everyday American shows the democratic system of America, as this is something that is not allowed in a media that is controlled by it's government. Through the voice of credible news journalists and the media, the story of the powerful, the powerless, the victims and the deception of politics and politicians to the American society about the war was narrated to Americans in the most graphic and vivid details imaginable.
Outline
Chapter 12: Vietnam War. Bringing the battle field into the American living room.
This is the outline which highlights the beginning of the Vietnam War to the time when Television evolved as a powerful major news medium and how it exposed the brutal bloody immoral horrors of the war and how it was simply not possible for the United States to win the Vietnam war to the American public through their television sets in the comforts of the home. American Viewers went from supporting the war to being completely against it through the images they were showed from the television. In other words, television news helped end the war.
1. American's longest war:
Early 1950s President Truman initiated the U.S. involvement with Vietnam and sends military troops.
1954 Vietnam was divided into two main territories. The North being controlled by the Communists and the South was pro democracy.
1964 Vietnam being a part of Americans lives.
Congress assured that all U.S. forces in Southeast Asia would be supported.
1965 Johnson sends massive troops to Vietnam.
1967 The number of U.S. troops exceeds 500,000 due to the U.S. being unfamiliar with the warfare practised by their enemy.
2. The most powerful medium in History. The Television.
Mid 1960s, most people started receiving their news from television instead of newspapers.
1972, 2/3s of Americans named the television as their source for major news.
Through 1967, television coverage of the war was favorable to the U.S. policy.
3. Exposing the horrors of the War.
1967 NBC Greg Harris reports from Vietnam in the presence of the troops about the reality of the horrors going on in Vietnam.
4. A Zippo lighter creates a storm.
In 1965, Safer films troops torching a Vietnamese village killing many innocent Vietnamese peasants.
Fred Friendly runs footage through CBS to the anger of President Johnson of many americans.
5. Tet stuns a Nation.
1968, North Vietnamese starts the Tet by sending the Viet Cong suicide squad to the U.S. Embassy in Saigon killing five American soldiers. This was a psychological win for the Viet Cong shocking the American public damaging the American's trust in the Johnson's administartion.
6.The Shot felt around the world:
Howard Tucker captures film of prisoner being shot in cold blood by a Southern Vietnamese officer,someone who was on the side of the United States. This footage left Americans disillusioned and they realized the truth about the war. Americans attitudes towards the war were starting to change.
7.Exposing the war as unwinnable
Walter Cronkite sets on a mission to Vietnam to uncover the truth. He concludes through the screens of millions of Americans from Vietnam that they were not winning the war. His words had a huge impact. President Johnson announced that he would not be running for reelections a month later and that the United states participation in the war would be greatly decreased.
8. Antiwar Protesters.
By mid 1968, the tet offensive and Walter Cronkite statement made journalists suspicious of government policies and more forgiving towards dissidents.
1970, war protesters became much more aggressive to the point of people losing their lives when they found out that Nixon sent more troops to other parts of Southeast Asia.
This is the outline which highlights the beginning of the Vietnam War to the time when Television evolved as a powerful major news medium and how it exposed the brutal bloody immoral horrors of the war and how it was simply not possible for the United States to win the Vietnam war to the American public through their television sets in the comforts of the home. American Viewers went from supporting the war to being completely against it through the images they were showed from the television. In other words, television news helped end the war.
1. American's longest war:
Early 1950s President Truman initiated the U.S. involvement with Vietnam and sends military troops.
1954 Vietnam was divided into two main territories. The North being controlled by the Communists and the South was pro democracy.
1964 Vietnam being a part of Americans lives.
Congress assured that all U.S. forces in Southeast Asia would be supported.
1965 Johnson sends massive troops to Vietnam.
1967 The number of U.S. troops exceeds 500,000 due to the U.S. being unfamiliar with the warfare practised by their enemy.
2. The most powerful medium in History. The Television.
Mid 1960s, most people started receiving their news from television instead of newspapers.
1972, 2/3s of Americans named the television as their source for major news.
Through 1967, television coverage of the war was favorable to the U.S. policy.
3. Exposing the horrors of the War.
1967 NBC Greg Harris reports from Vietnam in the presence of the troops about the reality of the horrors going on in Vietnam.
4. A Zippo lighter creates a storm.
In 1965, Safer films troops torching a Vietnamese village killing many innocent Vietnamese peasants.
Fred Friendly runs footage through CBS to the anger of President Johnson of many americans.
5. Tet stuns a Nation.
1968, North Vietnamese starts the Tet by sending the Viet Cong suicide squad to the U.S. Embassy in Saigon killing five American soldiers. This was a psychological win for the Viet Cong shocking the American public damaging the American's trust in the Johnson's administartion.
6.The Shot felt around the world:
Howard Tucker captures film of prisoner being shot in cold blood by a Southern Vietnamese officer,someone who was on the side of the United States. This footage left Americans disillusioned and they realized the truth about the war. Americans attitudes towards the war were starting to change.
7.Exposing the war as unwinnable
Walter Cronkite sets on a mission to Vietnam to uncover the truth. He concludes through the screens of millions of Americans from Vietnam that they were not winning the war. His words had a huge impact. President Johnson announced that he would not be running for reelections a month later and that the United states participation in the war would be greatly decreased.
8. Antiwar Protesters.
By mid 1968, the tet offensive and Walter Cronkite statement made journalists suspicious of government policies and more forgiving towards dissidents.
1970, war protesters became much more aggressive to the point of people losing their lives when they found out that Nixon sent more troops to other parts of Southeast Asia.
Tet
The attack upon the US embassy in Saigon during the Tet Offensive was one event that left an indelible impression upon the minds of the American public (File photo)
Zippo cigarette lighter creates a firestorm
CBS News correspondent Morley Safer, left, filing an official report from Cam Ne, Vietnam, 1965.
President Lyndon B. Johnson
President Lyndon B. Johnson in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam: Handshakes in a crowd of troops. (December 23, 1967)
The late Walter Cronkite, the gold standard for Journalists.
Walter Cronkite at Hue following the Tet Offensive, Vietnam, 1968.
Summary: Vietnam War. Bringing the battlefield into Americans living room.
This chapter unlike many other previous chapters in Mightier than the sword focuses on how the television news played a main task in changing the public opinions about the Vietnam war and turned the public against the war. Despite the differing opinions of politicians and the media about ending the war, no one could deny that television showed images that were so raw, disturbing and tragic that it cut right into the souls of countless Americans. Something that could not be achieved by print images by any means. The violent brutal massacre were portrayed in such vividness that everything else including politics and strategy was sidelined and ignored by the public. Americans only had one thing on their minds, the Vietnam war was wrong. The Vietnam war was also America's longest war. In an attempt to prevent Vietnam into following the footsteps of communist China, President and the others who came after him in the white house began the war. In 1954, Vietnam was divided into two territories. The North was ruled by Ho Chi Minh's communist government and the South was revolved around Saigon, which was pro democracy. In 1965, President Johnson sent the first GIs into Vietnam which rapidly increased 175,000 by the end of the year. Despite having superior military equipment, the Americans soldiers were clueless about the different technique of warfare used by rebel Viet Cong also known as the guerrilla fighters. Familiar with their own territories, the guerrilla fighters were able to disappear into jungles and managed to avoid their enemy, the Americans. Johnson was not giving up anytime soon and by 1967, the U.S. troops increased to a startling number of 500,000. Eventually the United States paid a severely high price with the deaths of more than 58,000 American soldiers killed in the war.
As the Vietnam war continued over time, more Americans used the television as their news source. Even President Johnson developed an obsession with the television news during that time. Through 1967, television coverage of the Vietnam War was in favor to the U.S. policy. With NBC Greg Harris reporting the war in the favor of America and narrating the weakness of the Viet Cong. However after the Tet Offensive in 1968, all that would change and television took on a critical role of portraying the war.
Things took a rapid turn of change when American viewers were disturbed and disgusted at the inhuman and heartless behavior of American soldiers when they torched an entire Vietnamese village simply by pulling out a Zippo cigarette lighter. The Tet incident shocked the nation when a Viet Cong suicide squad attacked the U.S. Embassy in Saigon murdering five American GIs. It was a psychological win for the Viet Cong. This destroyed the trust people had in the Johnson's administration in the past. The television news such as CBS and NBC aggressively aired programs on the tet showing graphic and brutal bloodbath of GIs . This only confirmed that the United States was being defeated in the war despite what people in the office were saying.
Not long after, the American people watched in horror how one of the their "people",someone who was supposed to be fighting on their side, a Southern Vietnamese officer, point a gun at an untried prisoner and murdered him in cold blood. All through their television screens. One of the people who witnessed this horrific image through his television screen was CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite. A man of great influence and reputation. Cronkite was outraged and determined to uncover the truth about what was really going on in Vietnam. Were they winning the war or no? The entire country was confused and needed an answer. By the third week of the Tet offensive, Cronkite was in Southeast Asia.Eventually Cronkite declared through television screens that neither the Americans nor the Vietnamese were winning the war. He ended his statement with the conclusion that America was losing a war for the first time in 20 years and that continuing it was pointless and that they should negotiate peace with Vietnam and exit the country.
His words carried a huge amount of weight and eventually Johnson declared that he would not run for reelection and that the U.S. involvement with the war would be greatly reduced. What was clear in these events was that after that coverage changed greatly and comments about the war ran greatly against the U.S. policy compared to the time when it ran for the policy before January 1968.
In November 1969, Seymour Hash revealed the Mai Lai massacre with American soldiers destroying a Vietnamese village murdering countless innocent people with Lieutenant William Calley being persecuted of murder,which was a grave blow to the U.S. military. And what followed after was the revelation of the Pengaton Papers by the Washington Post and The New York Times. It revealed to the public how the American military action was fueled mainly by political gain and nothing else.
These events left Americans disillusioned and demonstrations against the U.S. involvement in Vietnam increased rapidly. Taking advantage of television as an effective medium, the protesters played to their advantage with the cameras. The antiwar movement were translated into vivid images on television screens and CBS was even referred to as the Communist Broadcasting system. In the beginning, anti war protesters were treated with contempt and seen as traitors but by the mid 1968, Robert F. Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy intertwined the protests with their political stage. Images of protesters being beaten by police made journalists less harsh on these dissidents. By the fall of 1968, the Anti War Moratorium proposed their hope for peace which appealed to many American people especially conscience wise. The mindset and hearts of Americans had changed and the public was finally willing to voice their opposing thoughts regarding the war and unwillingness to continue it despite supporting it for way too long. The television coverage in Vietnam had played a crucial role in bringing the war to and end.
As the Vietnam war continued over time, more Americans used the television as their news source. Even President Johnson developed an obsession with the television news during that time. Through 1967, television coverage of the Vietnam War was in favor to the U.S. policy. With NBC Greg Harris reporting the war in the favor of America and narrating the weakness of the Viet Cong. However after the Tet Offensive in 1968, all that would change and television took on a critical role of portraying the war.
Things took a rapid turn of change when American viewers were disturbed and disgusted at the inhuman and heartless behavior of American soldiers when they torched an entire Vietnamese village simply by pulling out a Zippo cigarette lighter. The Tet incident shocked the nation when a Viet Cong suicide squad attacked the U.S. Embassy in Saigon murdering five American GIs. It was a psychological win for the Viet Cong. This destroyed the trust people had in the Johnson's administration in the past. The television news such as CBS and NBC aggressively aired programs on the tet showing graphic and brutal bloodbath of GIs . This only confirmed that the United States was being defeated in the war despite what people in the office were saying.
Not long after, the American people watched in horror how one of the their "people",someone who was supposed to be fighting on their side, a Southern Vietnamese officer, point a gun at an untried prisoner and murdered him in cold blood. All through their television screens. One of the people who witnessed this horrific image through his television screen was CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite. A man of great influence and reputation. Cronkite was outraged and determined to uncover the truth about what was really going on in Vietnam. Were they winning the war or no? The entire country was confused and needed an answer. By the third week of the Tet offensive, Cronkite was in Southeast Asia.Eventually Cronkite declared through television screens that neither the Americans nor the Vietnamese were winning the war. He ended his statement with the conclusion that America was losing a war for the first time in 20 years and that continuing it was pointless and that they should negotiate peace with Vietnam and exit the country.
His words carried a huge amount of weight and eventually Johnson declared that he would not run for reelection and that the U.S. involvement with the war would be greatly reduced. What was clear in these events was that after that coverage changed greatly and comments about the war ran greatly against the U.S. policy compared to the time when it ran for the policy before January 1968.
In November 1969, Seymour Hash revealed the Mai Lai massacre with American soldiers destroying a Vietnamese village murdering countless innocent people with Lieutenant William Calley being persecuted of murder,which was a grave blow to the U.S. military. And what followed after was the revelation of the Pengaton Papers by the Washington Post and The New York Times. It revealed to the public how the American military action was fueled mainly by political gain and nothing else.
These events left Americans disillusioned and demonstrations against the U.S. involvement in Vietnam increased rapidly. Taking advantage of television as an effective medium, the protesters played to their advantage with the cameras. The antiwar movement were translated into vivid images on television screens and CBS was even referred to as the Communist Broadcasting system. In the beginning, anti war protesters were treated with contempt and seen as traitors but by the mid 1968, Robert F. Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy intertwined the protests with their political stage. Images of protesters being beaten by police made journalists less harsh on these dissidents. By the fall of 1968, the Anti War Moratorium proposed their hope for peace which appealed to many American people especially conscience wise. The mindset and hearts of Americans had changed and the public was finally willing to voice their opposing thoughts regarding the war and unwillingness to continue it despite supporting it for way too long. The television coverage in Vietnam had played a crucial role in bringing the war to and end.
Chapter 12: Vietnam War. Bringing the battlefield into American living room.
An image of a Southern Vietnamese officer , who fought on the side of the United States , captured murdering a prisoner.
A brief introduction..:
The Vietnam War burns in the hearts and minds of many people until today. One of America's greatest defeats and longest wars. In Chapter twelve of Mightier Than The Sword, Streitmatter explains how Television allowed Americans to witness the war through their television sets and how it eventually helped to end the war.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Quote
We'd never had any opportunity to do that kind of work. Do you think that if you did domestic work all of your life where you cleaned somebody's toilets and did all the cooking for some lazy characters who were sitting on top, and you finally got a chance where you can get a dignified job, you wouldn't fly through the door? '
Source Unknown The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter 1980
Credit: http://www.great-quotes.com/cgi-bin/viewquotes.cgi?action=search&Movie=The+Life+and+Times+of+Rosie+the+Riveter
Source Unknown The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter 1980
Credit: http://www.great-quotes.com/cgi-bin/viewquotes.cgi?action=search&Movie=The+Life+and+Times+of+Rosie+the+Riveter
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Margaret Bourke White
Life magazine's first female photojournalist, Margaret Bourke White. She was also the first western photographer allowed into the Soviet Union.
The camera is a remarkable instrument. Saturate yourself with your subject, and the camera will all but take you by the hand and point the way. - Margaret Bourke White
"
The Kansas combat modifcation center
Two momen working inside a B-17 at Seattle production plant
Colorized version of a monochrome photograph showing women war plant
workers in the bomb bay area of a B-17.
Colorized version of a monochrome photograph showing women war plant
workers in the bomb bay area of a B-17.
Reason why I chose this topic
My reason for choosing this topic was because this chapter highlights how powerful the press really is. With the positive articles, photographs, campaigns and constant encouragement from the media.. women in the 1940s made their way out of the kitchens and joined the workforce. Working enforced their sense of pride towards their country that was at war with millions of men away in the military. The media made it a patriotic responsibility for women to work. Women started working in factories and plants not only working at desks jobs, but did manual labor work such as welding, operating cranes, building guns,ships and planes. Jobs that women back then never thought were possible occupations for themselves became their livelihood. I can imagine that initially alot of women were probably reluctant to join the workforce because they were still living in conservative times. And it was a completely new idea to work outside of home and like all new ideas, it had to be explained. However when the leading voices in the media and journalism glamorized the image of a working woman by making the everyday working woman welding in a factory the 1942 "it" girl, it slowly removed the stigma of a working women and made it desirable for women to work. "Rosie the Riveter" was praised in countless magazines and newspapers and was put on pedestal by the media. The media also created fictional characters in the image of perfection to highlight how fulfilling it was for a woman to work and be a perfect wife and mother. With the help of the media, African American women also found their place in the working world and were described as equally capable as white women. The simple use of powerful words, languages and photographs pulled the heartstrings of many patriotic Americans, it also created a huge change in social order in the country that would last even after the war ended. And that was the acceptance of women in the working world. Eventually the country made it through a crucial, tough and unforgettable time in history through the help of the fourth estate and millions of Rosie's working hands. The advocacy propaganda created by the fourth estate not only helped the United States win the war but it indirectly created a new era for women changing the workplace forever, it shows us how everything is possible with the media and it is not something to be underestimated. The image of "Rosie The Riveter" remains a classic until today and is one of the best known propaganda posters created by the media.
Powers of Persuasion
Longing Won`t Bring Him Back Sooner . . .
Get a War Job!
Get a War Job!
by Lawrence Wilbur, 1944
Printed by the
Government Printing Office for the War
Manpower Commission
NARA Still Picture Branch
(NWDNS-44-PA-389)
Government Printing Office for the War
Manpower Commission
NARA Still Picture Branch
(NWDNS-44-PA-389)
"Rosie the Riveter" Song lyrics 1942
While other girls attend their fav’rite
cocktail bar
Sipping Martinis, munching caviar
There’s a girl who’s really putting
them to shame
Rosie is her name
cocktail bar
Sipping Martinis, munching caviar
There’s a girl who’s really putting
them to shame
Rosie is her name
All the day long whether rain or shine
She’s a part of the assembly line
She’s making history,
working for victory
Rosie the Riveter
Keeps a sharp lookout for sabotage
Sitting up there on the fuselage
That little frail can do more than a
male will do
Rosie the Riveter
She’s a part of the assembly line
She’s making history,
working for victory
Rosie the Riveter
Keeps a sharp lookout for sabotage
Sitting up there on the fuselage
That little frail can do more than a
male will do
Rosie the Riveter
Rosie’s got a boyfriend, Charlie
Charlie, he’s a Marine
Rosie is protecting Charlie
Working overtime on the
riveting machine
When they gave her a production “E”
She was as proud as a girl could be
There’s something true about
Red, white, and blue about
Rosie the Riveter
Charlie, he’s a Marine
Rosie is protecting Charlie
Working overtime on the
riveting machine
When they gave her a production “E”
She was as proud as a girl could be
There’s something true about
Red, white, and blue about
Rosie the Riveter
Everyone stops to admire the scene
Rosie at work on the B-Nineteen
She’s never twittery, nervous or jittery
Rosie the Riveter
What if she’s smeared full of
oil and grease
Doing her bit for the old Lendlease
She keeps the gang around
They love to hang around
Rosie the Riveter
Rosie at work on the B-Nineteen
She’s never twittery, nervous or jittery
Rosie the Riveter
What if she’s smeared full of
oil and grease
Doing her bit for the old Lendlease
She keeps the gang around
They love to hang around
Rosie the Riveter
Rosie buys a lot of war bonds
That girl really has sense
Wishes she could purchase
more bonds
Putting all her cash into national
defense
Senator Jones who is “in the know”
Shouted these words on the radio
Berlin will hear about
Moscow will cheer about
Rosie the Riveter!
That girl really has sense
Wishes she could purchase
more bonds
Putting all her cash into national
defense
Senator Jones who is “in the know”
Shouted these words on the radio
Berlin will hear about
Moscow will cheer about
Rosie the Riveter!
Credit: http://www.pophistorydig.com/?tag=women-factory-workers
Saturday Evening Post
Credit: http://www.pophistorydig.com/?tag=women-factory-workers
Outline
Chapter 9: Creating "Rosie The Riveter" Propelling the American woman into the Workforce.
This is the timeline to when the media used advocacy propaganda by calling for female workers with positive coverages and praise in their articles and images during the World War II era. This enabled women to work in jobs that were once restricted to them and also helped the United States win the war. It also gave women a sense of worth and fulfillment and a new era of working women emerged in the years to come even after the end of the war.
World War II and the severe labor shortage when the men in the country were away at war. Womanpower was used instead.
1940 12 million American women worked outside their home.
1942 The Number increased to 19 million. A 58 percent increase.
The Fourth Estate, newspapers, news magazines and radio started giving women positive coverage to persuade them to join the workforce.
2. Calling all women
Business week quoted the importance of womanpower in the production of war weapons.
Independent Radio station KJR creates program titled "Jobs for Women." It aired the importance of women and the specific jobs available.
2200 women joined the Seattle workforce, the program "Jobs for Women." was an instant success.
New York Times headline "Needed: 50,000 Nurses."
Christian Science Monitor headline "Calling All Woman" and "It's Woman's Day Right Now."
1942 The Nation's cover story wanted compulsory employment for all healthy women.
1941 New York Times fall article talks about how American women were making a difference
The Times had articles pleading women to join the workforce by creating a recruitment brochure.
3. Glamorizing the "Girls"
Christian Science Monitor published a photo spread of beautiful young women walking to work in slacks and overalls. Overalls and slacks was made the new black and was described as "glamorous."
The Monitor describes assembly line female workers like they were Hollywood Stars.
The Time and New York Times describes work uniforms and work stations by using designer names and fashion terms.
1942 Life magazine publishes a photo essay gushing about the glamor of a working girl. American magazine did the same.
4. Praising Working women
1942 Newsweek boasts about women working in every area of defense production.
New York Times agreed that women were equal to men when it came to working skills.
Business Week Magazine praised women for their attention to detail and longer attention spans.
Radio stations joined the propaganda too.
5. Balancing Two Worlds.
New York Times writes a story about fictional character named Alma balancing her work life and duties as a wife and mother perfectly.
6. Redefining "Women's Work."
American Magazine publishes an article about how women can do anything when she is mad or threatened.
1941 American Magazine publishes article titled "Amazons of Aberdeen" the increase of women working in grounds and fields they were once not allowed to work at.
Newsweek argued that black women were just as capable as white women.
1930 Margaret Bourke-White publishes breathtaking photos with Life Magazine.
7. Capturing the Moment in Pictures.
Margaret Bourke-White and Life Magazine publishes photos and her personal account of her rescue at sea.
Bourke-White captures female workers in a rugged masculine way in her photography.
Another life photographer uses beautiful Hollywood Stars modeling as factory girls completed with glamorous hobbies outside of their work life.
Time publishes medical story disagreeing that riveting is the cause of breast cancer.
New York Times publishes photographs of women hard at work.
Changing the Social Order.
Between 1940 and 1944, women in the workforce increased to more than half
1946 one million more women were working in factories compared to 1940.
Two million women returned to their workdesks after peace was restored after the war.
Twenty Percent of American families had both husband and wife working compared to the eleven percent before the war.
This is the timeline to when the media used advocacy propaganda by calling for female workers with positive coverages and praise in their articles and images during the World War II era. This enabled women to work in jobs that were once restricted to them and also helped the United States win the war. It also gave women a sense of worth and fulfillment and a new era of working women emerged in the years to come even after the end of the war.
World War II and the severe labor shortage when the men in the country were away at war. Womanpower was used instead.
1940 12 million American women worked outside their home.
1942 The Number increased to 19 million. A 58 percent increase.
The Fourth Estate, newspapers, news magazines and radio started giving women positive coverage to persuade them to join the workforce.
2. Calling all women
Business week quoted the importance of womanpower in the production of war weapons.
Independent Radio station KJR creates program titled "Jobs for Women." It aired the importance of women and the specific jobs available.
2200 women joined the Seattle workforce, the program "Jobs for Women." was an instant success.
New York Times headline "Needed: 50,000 Nurses."
Christian Science Monitor headline "Calling All Woman" and "It's Woman's Day Right Now."
1942 The Nation's cover story wanted compulsory employment for all healthy women.
1941 New York Times fall article talks about how American women were making a difference
The Times had articles pleading women to join the workforce by creating a recruitment brochure.
3. Glamorizing the "Girls"
Christian Science Monitor published a photo spread of beautiful young women walking to work in slacks and overalls. Overalls and slacks was made the new black and was described as "glamorous."
The Monitor describes assembly line female workers like they were Hollywood Stars.
The Time and New York Times describes work uniforms and work stations by using designer names and fashion terms.
1942 Life magazine publishes a photo essay gushing about the glamor of a working girl. American magazine did the same.
4. Praising Working women
1942 Newsweek boasts about women working in every area of defense production.
New York Times agreed that women were equal to men when it came to working skills.
Business Week Magazine praised women for their attention to detail and longer attention spans.
Radio stations joined the propaganda too.
5. Balancing Two Worlds.
New York Times writes a story about fictional character named Alma balancing her work life and duties as a wife and mother perfectly.
6. Redefining "Women's Work."
American Magazine publishes an article about how women can do anything when she is mad or threatened.
1941 American Magazine publishes article titled "Amazons of Aberdeen" the increase of women working in grounds and fields they were once not allowed to work at.
Newsweek argued that black women were just as capable as white women.
1930 Margaret Bourke-White publishes breathtaking photos with Life Magazine.
7. Capturing the Moment in Pictures.
Margaret Bourke-White and Life Magazine publishes photos and her personal account of her rescue at sea.
Bourke-White captures female workers in a rugged masculine way in her photography.
Another life photographer uses beautiful Hollywood Stars modeling as factory girls completed with glamorous hobbies outside of their work life.
Time publishes medical story disagreeing that riveting is the cause of breast cancer.
New York Times publishes photographs of women hard at work.
Changing the Social Order.
Between 1940 and 1944, women in the workforce increased to more than half
1946 one million more women were working in factories compared to 1940.
Two million women returned to their workdesks after peace was restored after the war.
Twenty Percent of American families had both husband and wife working compared to the eleven percent before the war.
Did you know?
Did you know that before becoming a Hollywood star, Marilyn Monroe was a "Rosie" during the World War II years. She appeared on the cover of 'Yank' Magazine, the August 2nd, 1945 issue.It contained an article about women contributing to the war effort at home. Marilyn was working at the Radio plane plant, where she was "discovered".
Credit: http://www.pophistorydig.com/?tag=women-factory-workers
Real life Rosies.
Like Rosie, this woman is a true riveter. She drives rivets into an aircraft while her co-worker sits in the cockpit.
Credit : Harold M. Lambert/Lambert/Getty Images
http://history.howstuffworks.com/world-war-ii/rosie-riveter1.htm
Original caption: ‘Dora Miles and Dorothy Johnson are employed in the Long Beach Plant of the Douglas Aircraft Company.’
Credit: http://www.thefword.org.uk/blog/2008/10/rosie_the_rivet
African American Riveters. Women welders in New Britain, Connecticut, 1943.
Credit: http://www.pophistorydig.com/?tag=women-factory-workers
Female trainees at Middletown, PA, 1944. The Middletown Air Service Command stockpiled parts and overhauled military airplanes. During WWII, Middletown’s workforce grew from 500 to more than 18,000, nearly half of them women.
Credit: http://www.pophistorydig.com/?tag=women-factory-workers
Life Magazine
http://www.life.com/image/50458365
here is an image of An English girl modeling the uniform of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force on the cover of Life magazine of 01-26-1942.
here is an image of An English girl modeling the uniform of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force on the cover of Life magazine of 01-26-1942.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Rosie the Riveter.
Saturday Evening Post cover artist, Norman Rockwell, is generally credited with creating one of the popular “Rosie the Riveter” images used to encourage women to become wartime workers. Rockwell’s “Rosie,” shown at right, appeared on the cover of the May 29th,1943 edition of The Saturday Evening Post.
Credit: http://www.pophistorydig.com/?tag=women-factory-workers
Margaret Bourke-White
Margaret Bourke White a pioneer photojournalist and photographer. She is wearing a United States Army Air force uniform in this picture. She was the first female photojournalist for Life magazine and she had the ability to capture emotional moments in American History through her photography.
Summary. Propelling the American woman into the workforce.
Unlike the previous chapter, chapter nine of Streitmatter illustrates how the Fourth Estate contributed to the advancement of women and helped propel American women into the workforce. And also shows how powerful the media really is. During World War two when ten million healthy working men were away at war, the United States faced a severe shortage of manpower. It was a very critical time for the country which was already facing a huge shortage of military weapons compared to the Japanese and Germans. Faced with such a desperate situation, the country turned to women. Using the media as a propaganda machine, the country/government encouraged women to work . Most women were quick to join the workforce and the media started to give women very positive coverage by showing the public positive images of working women to encourage non working women the benefits of being in the workforce. No longer were women expected to be confined to the four walls of the kitchen or ironing clothes to feel complete as an individual. In contrast, it was now perfectly acceptable to be carrying machine guns and operating a fifteen ton crane. In order to aid the government efforts the media started to work on spreading the message and propaganda Radio, well established newspapers and magazines had massive coverages, proposals, articles and headlines specifically addressing women to become female worker by showing them how working women were making a difference. Photos of women working at their tasks and even pictures of student nurses were used. The next task that the media was faced with was to erase the perception that a working woman only signified a weak husband who was unable to support his family. Glamorizing the working women was their next strategy. Images of beautiful feminine women were used in magazines and slacks and overalls were described as the new black and chic. Despite that, the media made sure to reassure their male audience that a woman's capabilities was not all about her looks but also her ability to perform at her job as well as a male. The news media praised her strengths which included dexterity, longer attention spans and eye for details. The media also continued to reassure the public that her duties as a wife and mother was not neglected due to working and wrote stories of fictional characters fulfilling her responsibilities as a mother, wife and working woman. It was patriotic to work and the drive for victory was fueled through the media. Margaret Bourke-White was the epitome of the new American woman who used stunning photos and told exciting stories of wartime in Life Magazine. The media became aware that a picture was able to tell a thousand words . Editors started filling their magazines and papers with high quality photos. Despite many different images of the working women, whether she was depicted as rugged or resembling a Hollywood starlet, it was the picture of a woman at her work station welding, drilling and operating engines that were the most powerful ones. Between 1940 to 1944, working women were doubled in the workforce and it showed the country that females were capable of succeeding and through the help of news the media, public opinion about a female's role in society was forever changed and the idea of a working woman slowly became acceptable in the years to come. Rosie the Riveter became a national heroine to the public.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Chapter Nine: Creating Rosie the Riveter. Propelling the American Woman into the workforce.
An introduction....
The Iconic image of Rosie the Riverter which I am sure everyone is familiar with. A picture of her showing off her bicep which is also a symbol of America's strength. Why so? During a time when America was facing a severe draining workforce when most of the men were away fighting in the war, women were used as a replacement instead working in industrial and manufacturing jobs.
The Iconic image of Rosie the Riverter which I am sure everyone is familiar with. A picture of her showing off her bicep which is also a symbol of America's strength. Why so? During a time when America was facing a severe draining workforce when most of the men were away fighting in the war, women were used as a replacement instead working in industrial and manufacturing jobs.
Friday, November 5, 2010
The Revolution
Even though The Revolution's circulation never exceeded 3000 and eventually ceased to exist over time, it was a good starting point and instrument in attracting female workers specifically addressing the issues regarding female discrimination at their workplace and divorce, reproductive rights, prostitution and a wide range of social issues. The Revolution had a known policy that no advertisement for alternative medicine were allowed in the paper. Despite it's "failure", it was an enormous influence for their movement.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Equal Say
Woman's Journal and Suffrage News, a weekly newspaper founded by Lucy Stone in 1870, reported on the parade and the "disgraceful scenes" that surrounded it. One hundred marchers had to be taken to the hospital.
- Credit: National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection / Library of Congress
Reason why I chose this topic.
My reason for choosing this topic was because I was inspired by how Elizabeth Cady Staton, Susan B Anthony and many other great ones that came after them who fought hard for their rights despite the lack of help and constant mocking and abuse from the media. In the early days of the 18th century, women had their husband dictate their whole lives, daily routine and marriage. With the help of journalism, bold and courageous Staton and Anthony created their own voice which was admirable because no one else before them did something like that,which included the Seneca Falls convention started by Staton. What was the most inspiring was that despite the lack of technology,phones and convenient transportation and the "failure" of their first publication, they persisted still managed to reach out to women across the country with the help of journalism and that somehow united the women in the country. Even with massive verbal attacks from the media and failure of the women suffrage press, that did not discourage them, in fact it fueled their movement and the National American Woman Suffrage Association was founded by them . It took seventy two long years before women had the right to vote in this country but their efforts were well worth it. This also showed me how damaging the media can be showing biased and one sided news to the public in attempts to discourage others from supporting the women suffrage. And unfortunately their constant attacks worked. If the media had supported their movement, instead of abusing their power it would not have taken that long for women to finally be seen as equals in this country. This is a good example to remind us that a biased media can cause great setbacks to specific groups of people they choose to ostracize and make their victims. And this is still very relevant today with the media still being biased in alot of ways and creating false images of other countries,religion and the real living conditions of minorities,women in 3rd world country and such.
Life
Life magazine cover. Taken from Shields Library Special Collection Exhibit held in celebration for the women right to vote in America.
Carrie Chapman Catt
Here are some of her notable quotes:
http://womenshistory.about.com/od/quotes/a/carrie_catt.htm
National American Women Suffrage Association.
The National American Women Suffrage Association also known as the NAWSA was founded in 1890 by two rival suffrage forces. Founded by Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Staton VS Lucy Stone. In the beginning despite the establishment of the association, it had poor leadership who was conservative in many of her views. As it was formed during a very conservative era and managed by someone with extremely conservative social views, the NAWSA was frequently associated with anti immigrants,slavery and southern members who had racist views. However between 1870 and 1910, they carried out as many as 500 campaigns all across the country to motivate their voters, however it was hugely unsuccessful with less than 20 percent of success to bringing their issues to a vote.
Despite their slow and bumpy ride to success, it was the change of a new era that was so focused on other changes that it made their demands much less controversial compared to the past. Also, younger and more resourceful leaders started to emerge, and one of them was Harriot Staton Blatch who was Elizabeth Cady Staton's daughter. She was aggressive with her campaigns which included rallies, parades and aggressive lobbying. It was a huge success and by 1924, women were able to vote in ten states. The organization remained consistent with their work for women suffrage over the years and it was the introduction of Carrie Chapman Catt's "winning plan" that brought on the biggest change. She used force and pressure to increase the number of states that had women's suffrage and made congressman to support the suffrage. It worked and in 1918 the Nineteenth Amendment was passed by congress.
Despite their slow and bumpy ride to success, it was the change of a new era that was so focused on other changes that it made their demands much less controversial compared to the past. Also, younger and more resourceful leaders started to emerge, and one of them was Harriot Staton Blatch who was Elizabeth Cady Staton's daughter. She was aggressive with her campaigns which included rallies, parades and aggressive lobbying. It was a huge success and by 1924, women were able to vote in ten states. The organization remained consistent with their work for women suffrage over the years and it was the introduction of Carrie Chapman Catt's "winning plan" that brought on the biggest change. She used force and pressure to increase the number of states that had women's suffrage and made congressman to support the suffrage. It worked and in 1918 the Nineteenth Amendment was passed by congress.
Lucy Stone
Quote: “If a woman earned a dollar by scrubbing, her husband had a right to take the dollar and go and get drunk with it and beat her afterwards. It was his dollar.”
“But I do believe that a woman's truest place is in a home, with a husband and with children, and with large freedom, pecuniary freedom, personal freedom, and the right to vote.”
Seneca Falls Convention Declaration Sentiments (1848)
Declaration of Sentiments was written by Elizabeth Cady Staton and presented to the participants at the convention in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. She sought to address the wrongs against women and to redress them. It basically summed up the non existent women's rights in the United States and that women could no longer stand to be treated unequally.
Women's suffrage poster
Outline
Slowing the momentum for women's rights 1777-1920
This is the timeline to when women made use of Journalism to let their voices be heard and highlights how the media slowed the momentum for women to secure their rights in this country through the abuse of power.
1. Women being confined to her place
4. The Attacks
6. Conclusion on how the press had delayed and hindered women from securing their rights in the United States.
This is the timeline to when women made use of Journalism to let their voices be heard and highlights how the media slowed the momentum for women to secure their rights in this country through the abuse of power.
1. Women being confined to her place
- 1777 Mary Katherine Goddard and the printing of the Declaration of Independence
- 1792 Ladies magazine was created. First generation of women's magazine
2. Birth of the Women's rights movement
- 1848 Elizabeth Staton initiates the Seneca Falls Convention.
- Declaration Of Sentiments
- Bio of Susan B Anthony
- 1852 Syracuse Star calls a meeting in the city as the "Tomfoolery Convention."
- 1855 Women's rights advocate Lucretia Mott acknowledges that newspapers ridiculed them.
- 1868 Staton and Anthony founded The Revolution.
- 1870 The Revolution ceased publication
- 1869 Staton and Anthony founded The National Women Suffrage
- 1870 Lucy Stone founded American Women Suffrage Association
- Lucy Stone creates The Women Journal
4. The Attacks
- 1866 New York World degrades Anthony
- 1870 Utica Herald attacks Anthony's looks
- 1879 Richmond Herald takes a stab at Anthony's physical appearance
- 1869 Life magazines publishes a memorable image of Staton and Anthony as masculine and grim.
5. Victory despite Fourth Estate.
- 1890 National American Suffrage Association created.
- 1870-1910 500 campaigns started by feminists
- 1907 Harriot Staton Blatch creates the Women's political union.
- 1913 National Women party formed.
- 1918 Nineteenth Amendment passed with Carrie Chapman Catt winning plan and persistence.
- 1920 Women Suffrage became the law of the land
6. Conclusion on how the press had delayed and hindered women from securing their rights in the United States.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Women Rights
1869: A crowd of women joining the National Woman Suffrage Association, which was led by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B Anthony. (Photo by MPI/Getty Images)
Date Created: 01 Jan 1869
Credit: Getty Images
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Mightier than the Sword: Slowing the Momenturm for women's rights Summary.
I had other options for this project like the slavery but what attracted me was the chapter based on the fight for women rights. Being a female, I am aware that a large majority women living in this world still live under suppression and are the denied the basic rights to vote, drive or receive an education. In Mightier than the word, Streitmatter takes us back in history when women in this country were ridiculed constantly, unable to have a career,confined to the four walls of the kitchen and perceived as unequal to men. Being able to vote and have a life separate from having kids was not a given right. And most importantly he highlighted how the American newspapers of the nineteenth century slowed the momentum for women rights through the abuse of power.
The birth of Suffrage press began when a woman's role in society was largely suppressed and shaped by the media which was largely controlled by men. Women were expected to perform certain duties and be submissive throughout her life. The event that marked the beginning was the women rights movement started by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and later Susan B. Anthony, Harriot Staton Blatch and Alice Paul. The mainstream media was quick to attack Staton and Anthony's movement and campaigns. But Staton believed that all publicity was good publicity. Despite the "failure" of The Revolution, The Women Journal was subsequently founded by Stone which was the aim of the suffrage press. To join women all over the country together even with the lack of transportation by reaching out to women through a printed publication. It contained information of activities nationwide and reinforced her sense of purpose.
Despite that, the attacks from the media particularly the male dominated ones became more vicious and hostile. Elizabeth Cady Staton and Susan B Anthony were constantly ridiculed and depicted as extremely unattractive through pictures. It was only during an era of change and the rise of a new generation that allowed the issue of women suffrage to be taken seriously. With the lack of support from the fourth estate and with such limited and distorted media coverage, it took seventy two years before women in this country finally secured her rights.
The birth of Suffrage press began when a woman's role in society was largely suppressed and shaped by the media which was largely controlled by men. Women were expected to perform certain duties and be submissive throughout her life. The event that marked the beginning was the women rights movement started by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and later Susan B. Anthony, Harriot Staton Blatch and Alice Paul. The mainstream media was quick to attack Staton and Anthony's movement and campaigns. But Staton believed that all publicity was good publicity. Despite the "failure" of The Revolution, The Women Journal was subsequently founded by Stone which was the aim of the suffrage press. To join women all over the country together even with the lack of transportation by reaching out to women through a printed publication. It contained information of activities nationwide and reinforced her sense of purpose.
Despite that, the attacks from the media particularly the male dominated ones became more vicious and hostile. Elizabeth Cady Staton and Susan B Anthony were constantly ridiculed and depicted as extremely unattractive through pictures. It was only during an era of change and the rise of a new generation that allowed the issue of women suffrage to be taken seriously. With the lack of support from the fourth estate and with such limited and distorted media coverage, it took seventy two years before women in this country finally secured her rights.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Leaders Elizabeth Caddy Stanton & Susan B Anthony
Elizabeth Cady Stanton (right) and Susan B. Anthony sit on the porch of the Anthony house in Rochester, in this undated photo.
What would you do
if someone told you
you can't be what you want to be
because you are a girl?
What would you do
if someone told you
your vote doesn't count
your voice doesn't matter
because you are a girl?
Would you ask why?
Would you talk back?
Would you fight...
for your rights? --Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Women Journalists and Feminism in China
A most remarkable change took place in the first half of the twentieth century in China--women journalists became powerful professionals who championed feminist interests, discussed national politics, and commented on current social events by editing independent periodicals. The rise of modern journalism in China provided literate women with a powerful institution that allowed them articulate women's presence in the public space.
source: http://www.amazon.com/Women-Journalists-Feminism-China-1898-1937/dp/1604976608
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Afghanistan's Female Journalists Get a First Chance
"Such a center could not only seek to provide local reporting to local audiences, but also play the role that so-called 'bridge bloggers' play -- providing context and depth to those who are nowhere near Afghanistan but anxious to know what's going on," Jonathan Zittrain, Harvard Professor and Co-founder of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society, tells Fast Company. "Indeed, foreign correspondents could come to draw on the work going on at centers like this to flesh out their own reporting, crediting the new sources."
The Afghan Women's Writing Project is another resource for female journalists in Afghanistan, and yesterday one of their journalists wrote about predicting the recent Afghan earthquake. It's unclear if writing about non-political, religious issues is a safety net for most female reporters or if they generally feel free to express a critical voice.
As for security questions, we'll have to wait and see how this pans out, but perhaps the increasing role of women in media and journalism will ultimately affect national policies, and as the UN has reported, greater involvement of women in government helps to drastically decrease violence against women.
source: http://www.fastcompany.com/1684940/afghanistans-female-journalists-get-a-first-chance
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