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Our Second Line of Defense -- United War Work Campaign WWI Propaganda Poster
Ernest Hamlin Baker's 1917 poster, "For Every Fighter A Woman Worker," captures the spirit of the Young Women's Christian Association's (YWCA) advocacy during World War I, as they championed the cause of women in the workforce.
The YWCA was pivotal in promoting gender equality, emphasizing fair wages and broadening work access for women. At a time when many employers preferred single women without familial obligations, the YWCA's initiatives offered training, housing, and advocacy to women across various societal positions.
The visual narrative of the poster is compelling, portraying a phalanx of women, each bearing the tools of both war and labor—a symbolic representation of their dual roles. The phrase "Back Our Second Line of Defense" signifies the essential nature of the female workforce as a support structure that mirrored the front-line efforts of soldiers. This message was part of a broader campaign during 1918 that utilized the impactful slogan "For Every Fighter A Woman Worker" to highlight the integral contributions of women to the war effort.
The poster also serves to advertise the United War Work Campaign (UWWC), a collective fundraising movement unifying the efforts of organizations like the YWCA, YMCA, American Library Association, Knights of Columbus, Jewish Welfare Board, Catholic Welfare Council, and the Salvation Army. The funds raised were instrumental in supporting the war and the subsequent needs of troops and their families following the Armistice in 1918.
The YWCA, renowned as a stalwart advocate for women's rights and welfare, coordinated closely with entities such as the Red Cross and Salvation Army to deliver relief services during the war. This poster, apart from its fundraising aim, encapsulates the changing perceptions of women's roles during WWI. It indirectly bolstered the women's suffrage movement, which saw significant advances culminating in the passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1919 and 1920.
The artwork places the 'woman worker' at the forefront of the composition, with a biplane and artillery shell in hand, against a backdrop symbolized by a large blue 'V'. The YWCA's message is clear: women were more than capable of making vital contributions to the war effort. This poster is not just an artifact of its time but also a reflection of the shifts in societal values, as it helped to elevate the perception of women's equality and societal value during a critical juncture in history.
Ernest Hamlin Baker (1889-1975) was an American artist and illustrator from Poughkeepsie, New York.
Baker illustrated more than 300 covers for Time magazine. He also made posters for the American Legion. He drew political cartoons for Poughkeepsie's Evening Star newspaper.
His work was part of the painting event in the art competition at the 1932 Summer Olympics
