Prompt 1:My cultural artifact is a propaganda poster from 1917 during World War 1. The poster is of a woman in a Navy uniform next to the words, “Gee! I wish I were a MAN, I’d join the navy.” The poster itself is trying to recruit men for the navy and the purpose was supposed to show a woman that is worth fighting for. When looking at this poster you see gender roles, you read gender roles. Only a man is allowed to go and fight for his country, to protect a woman whom wishes she was in the navy just like him. And all a woman gets to do is help recruit them and show them what they’re fighting to protect.
Prompt 2: Although in the cultural artifact the woman is wearing a Navy uniform, which was supposed to be masculine at the time, she was still portraying femininity. The imagine reinforce traditional because women were not allowed in be in the Navy, even so they allowed this because she was used as an object to get men to join the nations great Navy. If we were not in war during this time, it would have definitely been challenging, but since she is standing there blowing in the wind, looking beautiful for men they did not mind it, this was for them, to grab their attention.
Prompt 3: I do not feel like this has impacted the way I think about my own gender identity and expression. When I saw this picture I actually laughed rather than think it can change my mind of my identity and expression. Although it didn’t change mine, it might have changed others during that times.
Prompt 4: Cultural Object: Propaganda poster
Social World: During World War 1 1917
Creators: United States Navy Recruiting Station
Receivers: ONLY men
