Work Builds Self-Esteem
Peppy Laasko, a “Rosie” during World War II, found that she liked the work and was good at it!
Image courtesy of Peppy Laasko.
Many women enjoyed the friendship of their fellow workers, who often were like family to them.
Women working outside the home developed pride in their abilities and honed skills coveted on the job. As a result, many women expressed a strong sense of satisfaction that went beyond the paycheck-- the feeling of " a job well done."
During Peppy Laakso’s interview, she recalls her job during World War II at Warren City Manufacturing making landing craft mechanisms (LCMs). A part of the craft was a small tank. If they found a leak in one, Peppy was the woman singled out to crawl into the small space to seal the hole because she was the smallest individual on the job wearing her welding helmet and leather gloves. Peppy soberly remarks, “A job had to be done.”
Women approached tasks differently and brought a certain style that men lacked. There was a reoccurring sentiment that supervisors told their female employees, "tradeswomen show finesse in place of men's ham-fisted approach." One supervisor told Shirley Stoffick, a heavy machinery operator, that 'We need you to "do this like a lady" which she understood to mean that she needed to be precise even in the face of multi-ton machines.
When reflecting on their jobs, the sense of accomplishment, and the comradery shared with other workers, C.F, T.O., and D.I., pipefitters, steel and iron workers, and union members stated that they “loved working in the mills” and “loved my [their] job[s] there.” D.I. stated that “It was dangerous, but I always felt safe” because she was confident in her own skills and trusted the competency of coworkers to “have her back.” The impression from her and others was that strong relationships were born out of that conviction. Many expressed feeling like they were part of a family at their jobs/workplaces. The phrase “it was like a family” was repeated often.
Loretta Eggleston worked in the mill and enjoyed the skills and abilities she developed on the job. Pride was an important part of why she enjoyed her work.
Image courtesy of YSU Collection.