During World War II, there were numerous drafts to account for the many men that went away to or died in battle. Because of the large absence of males, women were forced to fill in these void roles. This political cartoon depicts just this; women dressed up in largely male attire saluting in loyalty to their country. The short but impacting text reveals that women "served," or worked jobs to assist those in battle. The soldier in the corner is clearly smaller than the women; emphasizing the importance of the women during this time. The men were able to enter battle and fight because of the assistance and professionalism from women. The three women also all have short, cropped hair, to equalize their presence to males. As women were still fighting to be treated as equals during this time, they desired to show their capability to work just like men, and they did this by attempting to be physically similar to males.
The rhetorical device of placement is emphasized in this poster. The man in the corner is obviously not the main figure in this painting, as the women's roles are being exaggerated and prioritized. However, this also goes to show the growing role of women. Without the females, the men would be unable to fight in battle because of the lack of uniforms, ammunition, or other necessary supplies. The role that women were playing during this time were crucial, and this is reflected through the strategic placement of the men and women in this picture.
This painting was intended for the general public. It may have been, however, specifically aimed at females, to encourage their presence in the workforce and show their growing importance and need.
The painter's purpose was accomplished. Depicting women as strong and capable most likely pushed women to play a bigger role in society to aid the men that would be unable to fight without their help. The strategic placement of figures helped further emphasize the women's roles in society.
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