March 8 is International Women's Day and to celebrate we've combed the archives of Virtual Motor City and come up with these 30 empowering images. The photos span the first and second world wars and show women who went to work in crucial manufacturing jobs in factories and plants to aid in the war effort. Rosie the Riveter may be the go-to feminist symbol for women's employment, but these real photos of Detroit women hard at work are even more inspiring today.
All photos are courtesy of Detroit News Collection, Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University.
At a time when local-based reporting is critical, support from our readers is essential to our future. If you're able to, please support Metro Times today.
Browse Galleries
All the places you can buy recreational weed in metro Detroit right now
This excessive $5.5 million mansion in Northville is made entirely from marble — let’s take a tour
Metro Detroiters rally in Grosse Pointe Park in support of Black woman targeted by KKK flag
25 places offering Lent fish fries in the Detroit area
This $799.9k historic Romanesque Michigan mansion boasts eight fireplaces — let’s tour
25 of the most romantic restaurants in the Detroit area, according to Yelp