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The Disappearance of Amelia Earhart: A Cultural Phenomenon

Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt

After her second transatlantic flight, Earhart continued to set out on record-breaking trips. Only two months after returning to America in June 1932, she became the first woman to fly solo across the North American continent and back. She also found time for other projects, especially those that advanced women’s progress in society. During this period she became close friends with first lady Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962). The two women shared a similar sense of independence and supported each other’s causes. Inspired by Earhart’s example, Roosevelt wanted to obtain a pilot’s license, although her husband rejected the idea. Earhart was a frequent visitor to the White House and was likewise influenced by Roosevelt. She supported the first lady’s efforts to improve the lives of working women and joined her campaign to promote world peace.

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Role Model and Promoter
In addition to the publicity she received from her aviation achievements, Earhart sought out opportunities in other avenues to promote her love of aviation and inspire people, women in particular, to chase their dreams. Social norms of the early 20^th century held that flying was not a very “ladylike” activity. Amelia hoped to break this stereotype and her success in such an abnormal career at the time encouraged other women to follow suit and go after their dreams as well.

Along with Amelia and George’s successful partnership in her flying career, George also arranged for her to endorse a line of flight luggage and sports clothes. During the start of the Ninety-Nines, Amelia developed a flying suit for the organization, and it was even advertised in Vogue. This lead her to start an Amelia Earhart clothing line, which was marketed in stores such as Macy’s and Marshalls’ around the United States in 30 cities.

After her transatlantic flight in 1928, Earhart landed a job as the aviation editor of Cosmopolitan magazine with her own writing column. Here she wrote about her introduction to the field of aviation as well as personal accounts of flying in hopes to inspire other women and young girls to learn to fly and take lessons.
In 1929, Earhart was elected as an official of the National Aeronautic Association, where she pushed the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) to establish separate women's flying records. Women had fewer opportunities than men at the time, and Earhart strongly believed that women’s achievements should be noted in addition to that of men.

Later that same year, she also helped to form an organization of women pilots named The Ninety-Nines, of which she was elected as the first president. Earhart believed “the more women fly, the more who become pilots, the quicker we will be recognized as an important factor in aviation.” She wanted the organization of women to come together and open doors for future women not just in aviation, but in all paths of life.

Between 1935 and 1936, Amelia served as an aeronautical adviser and women's career counselor at Purdue University. This allowed her to be a direct role model to younger women in aviation and other fields as well.
Earhart spent the majority of her time outside of flying promoting women’s opportunities, and the many firsts she achieved in aviation proved that women were equal to men. While Amelia is recognized as the most famous pilot of her time, she did not seek to give herself a superior image to other female pilots.