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The roots of the rockabilly girl start with
the 1940s women who took over the factory jobs in World War II, like Rosie
the Riveter. No longer would women be subservient to men -
America relied on the force of women in a very public way. 50-70% of
all women who had been in personal service, or working eating or drinking
establishments before the war got jobs in war manufacturing.
American women saw the situation as a wonderful opportunity for them to
excel financially. At the height of war manufacturing (1944) 1 out
of 3 defense workers was a former full-time homemaker. And while
women worked outside the home during the day, at night many then wore sexy
dresses and danced all night.
A Rockabilly Girl is proud of her background, roots, and who she is.
Rockabilly music is about swing jazz with a southern working-class
rebellious feel, and a rockabilly girl has attitude, pizzazz, and
style. The word girl has been "taken back", like the Riot
Grrls, or "queer", and is used as a powerful, empowering word.
The Rockabilly Girl has the power of the
riveter with the femininity of the dancer. These women work
hard all day and party all night. Femininity can be strong, sexy
does not have to mean weak, and the Rockabilly Girl is very 21st century
as well as 1940s, with the combination of hot, stylish, and yet tough, as
well.
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