---
title: Arms and the women help with defense
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/arms-and-the-women-help-with-defense-1942/
description: Photo-montage poster of nine captioned photographs of women at work on cartridges, shells, gas masks, wire harnesses and machine tools.
section: Collection
---

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3. Arms and the women help with defense

[![Arms and the women help with defense, 1942 US poster: Photo-montage poster of nine captioned photographs of women at work](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/arms-and-the-women-help-with-defense-1942.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/arms-and-the-women-help-with-defense-1942.jpg)

# Arms and the women help with defense

Photo-montage poster of nine captioned photographs of women at work on cartridges, shells, gas masks, wire harnesses and machine tools. Captions such as 'A comfortable job' and 'Keep 'em smiling' present war-plant work as pleasant and suited to women, a transfer of defence-work prestige onto the jobs shown.

## Propaganda techniques used in this poster

[Transfer](https://propagandaarchive.org/techniques/transfer/)

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
[imprint: Women's Bureau, Department of Labor seal]
ARMS AND THE WOMEN HELP WITH DEFENSE
ARTILLERY AMMUNITION—WOMEN ARE
DOING MANY JOBS HERE
GAGING AND WEIGHING CAR-
TRIDGES IN AN ENDLESS ROW
A COMFORTABLE JOB—INSPECTING SMALL-
ARMS CARTRIDGES
KEEP 'EM SMILING—THE WORK GOES
BETTER
ASSEMBLING GAS MASKS
ACCURACY IS HER WATCHWORD
ASSEMBLING WIRE HARNESS FOR ARMY
TRUCKS
SPRAYING THE GARDEN? GUESS
AGAIN. IT'S AN AUTOMOTIVE
PROCESS
SHE HELPS TO MAKE THE WHEELS OF WAR
GO 'ROUND
[imprint: For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C., Price 10 cents]
[imprint: U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1942 O - 469088]
```

[← Armoured Cars are Battle Spearhead](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/armoured-cars-are-battle-spearhead-1942/) [Ask the women and children whom Hitler is starving whether rationing is too great a "sacrifice" →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/ask-the-women-and-children-whom-hitler-is-starving-1942/)

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- [Gypsum alabaster slab inscribed in cuneiform, from Nimrud (Kalhu), reign of Ashurnasirpal II](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/nimrud-slab-ashurnasirpal-ii-inscription-883bce/) (Neo Assyrian Empire · 0000 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)
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